PM KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI (PM-Kisan) YOJANA
1. Context
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan lead the chart of 1.16 lakh farmers who have voluntarily given up the benefits of the annual Rs 6,000 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme across the country from June 2023 to May 2024, according to data available with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
2.What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana?
- The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector Scheme designed to offer financial support to all cultivable landholding farmer families across the nation, with certain exclusions. Under this scheme, ₹6,000 is distributed annually in three equal installments of ₹2,000 directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of farmers.
- A farmer-focused digital infrastructure has been established to ensure the scheme's benefits reach all farmers nationwide without the involvement of intermediaries, maintaining complete transparency in beneficiary registration and verification. The Government of India has disbursed over ₹2.60 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers.
- The PM-KISAN Scheme was launched in February 2019. West Bengal joined the scheme from the 8th installment (April-July 2021) after initially requesting that funds be transferred to the state government for distribution to farmers.
- In the last financial year, 2022-23, a total of ₹58,201.85 crore was disbursed to eligible beneficiaries
3. What are the objectives of the PM-Kisan scheme?
The objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme are:
- Provide financial assistance to all landholding farmer families to help them meet agricultural and household needs
- Alleviate the financial burden on farmers, reducing their dependence on loans and minimizing distress caused by inadequate income.
- Enable farmers to invest in essential agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity
- Contribute to poverty reduction in rural areas by boosting the income of small and marginal farmers
- Ensure that financial benefits reach the most vulnerable farmers across the country without discrimination or exclusion, except for certain categories specified
- Implement a transparent and efficient mechanism for transferring funds directly into the bank accounts of farmers, minimizing leakages and middlemen involvement.
- Promote the overall welfare of farmers by providing them with stable financial support, contributing to their economic and social development.
- Support sustainable agricultural practices by enabling farmers to afford better inputs and resources
4. Who is eligible for the PM-Kisan scheme?
Eligibility for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme is based on certain criteria. Here are the key points:
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Eligible Farmers:
- All landholding farmer families who own cultivable land are eligible for the scheme.
- A "farmer family" is defined as a family unit comprising the husband, wife, and minor children.
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Landholding Criteria:
- There are no restrictions based on the size of landholding; all landholding farmers, irrespective of the size of their land, are eligible.
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Exclusions:
- Institutional landholders are not eligible.
- Farmer families in which one or more members belong to the following categories are also excluded:
- Holders of constitutional posts.
- Serving or retired officers and employees of Central/State Government Ministries/Offices/Departments and their field units, Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies (Excluding Multi-Tasking Staff/Class IV/Group D employees).
- Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects registered with professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.
- Income Tax payees in the last assessment year.
- Pensioners drawing a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more (excluding Multi-Tasking Staff/Class IV/Group D employees).
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Other Criteria:
- The land should be under cultivation and the ownership details should be recorded in the official land records of the State/Union Territory.
- Beneficiaries need to have a valid Aadhaar number for identification and verification purposes
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For Prelims: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
For Mains: GS-II, GS-III: GS-II, GS-III: Government Policies & Interventions, Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices.
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Previous Year Questions
1.Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (UPSC CSE 2017)
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Source: Indianexpress
