PIB TrackerPM-KISAN's 23rd instalment to put over Rs 18,880 crore in farmers' accounts
The Prime Minister will release the 23rd PM-KISAN instalment from West Bengal on 20 June, transferring more than Rs 18,880 crore directly to over 9.44 crore farmers, including 2.18 crore women.
What happened
- The Prime Minister will release the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on 20 June 2026 from Tarakeswar, Hooghly district, West Bengal.
- More than Rs 18,880 crore will be transferred directly to over 9.44 crore farmers in this instalment, of whom over 2.18 crore are women farmers.
- With this release, cumulative disbursement under the scheme will exceed Rs 4.46 lakh crore since its inception on 24 February 2019.
- The day will be marked as 'PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas', with awareness events at state, district, block and gram-panchayat levels supported by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and local agriculture offices.
- More than 1 crore farmers are expected to join via video conferencing from KVKs, ICAR institutes, FPOs, mandis, PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras and cooperative societies.
For Prelims
- PM-KISAN: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, launched 24 February 2019 (effective 1 December 2018), provides income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal Rs 2,000 instalments to landholding farmer families.
- Scheme type: A Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Union Government (no state share), with benefits paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Instalment cycle: The three instalments cover April-July, August-November and December-March; payments use Aadhaar-linked accounts and land records for verification.
- Eligibility & exclusions: Originally for families with up to 2 hectares (later all landholding farmers), with exclusions for income-tax payers, institutional landholders and certain office-holders/professionals.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): District-level agricultural extension/knowledge centres under the ICAR network that disseminate technology and connect farmers to events.
- Related support: PM-KISAN complements PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (pension), Kisan Credit Card and crop insurance (PMFBY) in the farmer-welfare basket.
- Don't confuse: PM-KISAN (a Central Sector, 100% Union-funded income-support scheme) is distinct from a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (shared Centre-state funding) and from MSP-based procurement.
For UPSC: PM-KISAN's 23rd instalment will transfer over Rs 18,880 crore to 9.44 crore+ farmers, taking cumulative payouts past Rs 4.46 lakh crore since 2019. Anchor PM-KISAN (Central Sector Scheme, 100% Union-funded, Rs 6,000/yr in 3 instalments via DBT, launched 24 Feb 2019), eligibility/exclusions, KVKs/ICAR, and the Central-Sector vs Centrally-Sponsored distinction.
What it is NOT: PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme funded 100% by the Union Government — NOT a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (which shares funding with states). It is direct income support (Rs 6,000/year via DBT), not MSP-based procurement or a loan; the instalment is Rs 2,000, paid three times a year.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS2.10 · GS3.2 · Linkage L1
Anchor
Income support and agrarian welfare — direct benefit transfer as a tool for farmer income security and distress mitigation.
Substantiation (data)
PM-KISAN 23rd instalment: Rs 18,880 cr+ to 9.44 cr farmers (2.18 cr women); cumulative Rs 4.46 lakh cr since 24 Feb 2019; Rs 6,000/yr in 3 instalments.
Exemplification
Cite PM-KISAN (with KCC, PMFBY and PM Kisan Maan Dhan) as an example of DBT-based, leakage-resistant welfare delivery to farmers.
Problematisation
Exclusion/inclusion errors, land-record and tenancy gaps (tenant/landless farmers excluded), and the flat-amount design limit targeting and adequacy.
Way-forward
Improve land-record digitisation and saturation, consider tenant/landless coverage, and link income support with productivity and risk-cover measures.
Position
Government stance: PM-KISAN provides reliable, transparent income support directly to farmers, strengthening rural incomes and dignity.
Deploys into: Farmer income support & DBT (PM-KISAN) · welfare scheme design (Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored) · agrarian distress & rural incomes (GS2.10 government policies & interventions, GS3.2 inclusive growth & agriculture).
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare · 2026-06-18 · PRID 2274616 · PIB source ↗