Cabinet Approves 5-Year Extension for PM-KISAN Direct Transfer Scheme

The Union Cabinet approved a comprehensive five-year extension for the flagship Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. This decision ensures uninterrupted financial assistance directly into the bank accounts of landholding farmer families across the nation.

Launched in February 2019, PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Government of India. It addresses the financial needs of small and marginal farmers in procuring agricultural inputs, managing domestic expenses, and shielding them from high-interest informal credit networks during cropping seasons.

Under the scheme, financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year is transferred in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 every four months through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Over ₹3 lakh crore has been disbursed to more than 11 crore eligible farmers since inception using Aadhaar-seeded financial databases.

The extension underscores government commitment to agrarian stability and rural economic growth. Candidates preparing for competitive exams must note PM-KISAN parameters for UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 on agricultural subsidies and direct income transfer schemes in Prelims MCQs.