Why this matters now
PM-KISAN is a flagship example of direct income support (versus price/input subsidies) and of DBT at scale. It is examined for its design, its use of digital land and bank records, and the broader debate on cash transfers versus traditional agricultural support.
Key features
- ₹6,000 per year in three instalments of ₹2,000, every four months;
- 100% central funding; transferred via DBT directly to bank accounts;
- Originally for small and marginal farmers, later extended to all landholding farmer families (subject to exclusions);
- Beneficiary verification uses land records, Aadhaar and bank accounts (e-KYC required).
Who is excluded
Higher-income and institutional categories are excluded — including income-tax payers, holders of constitutional posts, serving/retired government employees above a certain rank, and professionals like doctors, lawyers and engineers in practice. This targets support toward genuine cultivators.
Significance and debate
PM-KISAN provides predictable income to help with input costs and consumption, with minimal leakage thanks to DBT. Debates: whether the amount is adequate, the exclusion of tenant farmers and the landless (it is tied to land ownership), and accuracy of land records. Some states run complementary income-support schemes.
UPSC angle
Remember the design (₹6,000/yr, three instalments, 100% central, DBT) and the key limitation — it is tied to land ownership, so tenant farmers and the landless are largely excluded.
Frequently asked questions
What is PM-KISAN?
A central scheme (2019) that gives landholding farmer families ₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000, transferred directly to their bank accounts via DBT.
Who is eligible for PM-KISAN?
Landholding farmer families, subject to exclusions. e-KYC and linked land and bank/Aadhaar records are required.
Who is excluded from PM-KISAN?
Higher-income and institutional categories — income-tax payers, constitutional post-holders, higher-rank government employees, and practising professionals like doctors, lawyers and engineers.
What is a key limitation of PM-KISAN?
Because it is tied to land ownership, tenant farmers and the landless are largely excluded.