Introduction
On August 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 20th instalment of the PM‑Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme from Varanasi, transferring ₹20,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.7 crore eligible small and marginal farmers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This marks another milestone in the government’s sustained rural support efforts.0
Scheme Overview & Historical Context
Launched in February 2019, PM‑Kisan provides ₹6,000 annually per eligible farmer, split into three equal ₹2,000 instalments. The first tranche went out in February 2019, and by now—across 20 instalments—the government has disbursed approximately ₹3.69 lakh crore to beneficiaries nationwide.1
Key Figures & Regional Highlights
- Total payout: ₹20,500 crore to ~9.7 crore farmers.2
- Uttar Pradesh: ~2.3 crore beneficiaries—about 25% of national total.3
- Assam: 20.31 lakh farmers received ₹422.05 crore.4
- Odisha: 34.85 lakh farmers received ₹697 crore under PM‑Kisan on PM‑Kisan Diwas, alongside state-level CM-Kisan add‑on of ₹4,000/year.5
Objectives & Socioeconomic Impact
The scheme aims to empower small and marginal farmers by providing predictable income for seeds, fertilisers and irrigation, thereby reducing reliance on informal lenders. It presently benefits over 85% of Indian farmers, most cultivating less than 2 hectares.6
Technology & e‑KYC Mechanism
Key digital enablers include Aadhaar-linked Jan-Dhan accounts, face-authentication in the PM‑Kisan app, and the Kisan‑eMitra AI chatbot. e‑KYC is mandatory for instalment reception, available via OTP, biometric scans at CSCs, or face‑auth e‑KYC. Farmers without completed e‑KYC risk missing future payouts.7
How to Check Payment & Resolve Issues
- Visit the official PM‑Kisan portal and select “Beneficiary Status”.
- Enter Aadhaar, bank account or mobile number.
- View status—successful e‑KYC, land and Aadhaar seeding mean likely payment.
- If ₹2,000 is missing, contact Kisan Call Centre at 1800‑180‑1551.8
Timeline of Major Milestones
- February 2019: PM‑Kisan launched; first instalment paid to 1+ crore farmers.
- February 24, 2025: 19th instalment of ~₹22,000 crore to ~9.8 crore farmers.9
- August 2, 2025: 20th instalment of ₹20,500 crore to ~9.7 crore farmers.10
Trivia & Quiz Nuggets
- Each PM‑Kisan instalment is ₹2,000; total annual support ₹6,000.
- By 20th tranche, total disbursement stands at ~₹3.7 lakh crore.
- Uttar Pradesh contributes ~25% of total beneficiaries (~2.3 crore).
- Face-authentication e‑KYC and AI chatbot ‘Kisan‑eMitra’ launched to simplify access.
- PM‑Kisan app went live in 2020; face-auth addition in 2023.
Source: Zee News