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Union Cabinet extends PM-KISAN scheme through 2030-31
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Wednesday, 05 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) scheme for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore. The decision reinforces the government's commitment to providing direct income support to eligible farmer families through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, enabling timely agricultural investments and strengthening rural livelihoods.
Launched in February 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme provides Rs 6,000 annually to eligible landholding farmer families in three equal instalments directly into their bank accounts. The scheme uses Aadhaar-based authentication, digital verification and the DBT platform to ensure transparent and efficient fund transfers.
According to the government, more than Rs 4.47 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers through 23 instalments since the scheme's launch. Under the 23rd instalment, over 9.49 crore farmers received benefits worth more than Rs 18,984 crore.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme disbursed over Rs 1.71 lakh crore to support farmers. Women farmers have received more than Rs 1.06 lakh crore under the programme, with nearly one in four beneficiaries being women.
The government said the financial assistance has enabled farmers to make timely investments in seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, farm machinery and other agricultural inputs, reducing their dependence on informal credit while improving the financial stability of rural households.
Independent evaluations have also highlighted the scheme's impact. According to an assessment by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog, more than 92 per cent of beneficiaries used the assistance for agricultural activities and farm investments, while around 85 per cent reported higher agricultural income and reduced reliance on informal borrowing.
The government also noted that between 2020-21 and 2025-26, the country's foodgrain sector recorded significant growth, with the cultivated area increasing by around 9.65 per cent, productivity rising by 10.53 per cent, and total foodgrain production growing by 21.18 per cent.
Highlighting the role of Digital India, the government said PM-KISAN has become a model for technology-driven welfare delivery through Aadhaar-based authentication, digital beneficiary verification and direct benefit transfers, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The continuation of the scheme is expected to enhance farmers' investment capacity, improve agricultural productivity, reduce farming risks and strengthen the rural economy, while supporting the government's vision of building a self-reliant agricultural sector and advancing the goal of a Viksit Bharat.
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