Agriculture is the principal source of income for more than 58% of India’s population. Securing farmer welfare is so critical to India’s economic growth and stability. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), which was established in 2019, intends to augment farmers’ financial requirements for purchasing required agriculture supplies. Over 9 crore small farmers have gotten economic advantages from the initiative.
PM Kisan Eligibility Criteria
The following are the qualifying conditions for farmers to receive benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme:
- All landholding farmer households owning cultivable land of up to 2 hectares are eligible for PM Kisan incentives.
- The land should be in the name of the farmer who is applying. The ownership of farmland should clearly be under the applying beneficiary.
- The farmer’s name should mandatorily feature in the land records to prove ownership status. Their credentials should match land data records.
- Beneficiaries have an age limit of 18 to 60 years. The minimum age is 18 years, while the maximum age is 60 years.
- Unlike other social security schemes, there is no income ceiling for PM Kisan eligibility. All income groups are entitled without income criteria.
- Certain non-farmer entities like institutions, elected representatives, pensioners, former and present ministers, local authority members etc. are excluded and cannot register themselves to claim PM Kisan funds.
By fulfilling the above PM Kisan eligibility criteria related to landholding, landownership papers, age and applicant status, small and marginal farmers can apply for and receive income support under the PM Kisan scheme subject to verification.
Benefits and Status of PM Kisan Scheme
Here are some key points about the benefits and current status of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme:
Benefits of PM Kisan
- Registered farmers get Rs 6,000 per year as income support, released in 3 installments of Rs 2,000 each
- The amount is directly transferred into the bank accounts of beneficiaries
- This supplements the farmer’s income and provides financial assistance for procuring inputs
- There is no restriction on how the farmer chooses to use the funds
- It helps farmers meet expenses during emergencies or lean periods
Current Status of PM Kisan
- So far, more than Rs 1.37 lakh crore have been given under the scheme.
- The plan has assisted more than 9 crore agricultural families.
- Average landholding size of beneficiaries is around 0.8 hectares
- Around 48% recipients are categorized as small farmers (landholding between 1-2 hectares)
- Approximately 40% of beneficiaries are marginal farmers (landholding up to one hectare).
- Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal are the top five states by number of recipient families.
The large coverage and involvement of small and marginal farmers demonstrates the viability of the income support plan in boosting agricultural revenues and ensuring financial stability. This aids farmers in countering uncertainties and risks inherent in agriculture.
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Checking PM Kisan Status Using Aadhar
To check one’s application or payment status under PM Kisan using Aadhar card, the following methods can be used:
- Visiting the Official Website – On pmkisan.gov.in under Farmers Corner section, Aadhar number can be used to track PM Kisan progress
- PM Kisan Mobile App – Downloading the app and registering with Aadhar serves to verify status anytime
- Common Service Centres – Nearest CSCs can be visited with one’s Aadhar card to ascertain PM Kisan status
Linking one’s Aadhar helps identify and confirm beneficiary registration and payment records under the scheme. It enables quick status checks without needing other documents.
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Helping Farmers Counter Risks
In the absence of robust market frameworks for agricultural trade in India, schemes like PM-KISAN serve to shelter vulnerable farmers from income vagaries. Waiver programmes often fail by benefiting only a few selected farmers. Annual PM Kisan transfers instead ensure wider coverage protecting against production and price uncertainties. It promotes food security and prevents distress out-migration from villages due to crop failures or unremunerative pricing.
By providing financial stability, PM-KISAN enables farmers to access improved farm inputs, adopt modern techniques and boost productivity. Marginal farmers in particular stand to gain immensely. Separate schemes connecting farmers to Kisan Credit Cards and crop insurance strengthen risk mitigation further. Viewed holistically, the income support programme upholds both equity and efficiency.
Way Forward
Some areas offering scope for improvement in implementation include resolving pending Aadhar seeding issues to expand eligibility, ensuring regular transfer of installments and linking PM Kisan to digital land records for authenticity. Nevertheless, PM-KISAN has provided much needed income support and risk cover to millions of vulnerable small farmers. It reflects India’s commitment to securing farmer welfare as a growth strategy. Combined with allied farmer-centric reforms spanning irrigation, insurance, credit access and market linkages, the path to Samrudh Kisan becomes clearer.