The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 by the Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under this scheme, the financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments every four months is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers' families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. The PM-KISAN scheme is one of the largest DBT Schemes of the World.

A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of the middlemen. Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.46 lakh Cr in 18 instalments, so far.

The scheme initially started on a trust-based system, where beneficiaries were registered by the states on self-certification basis. Initially, Aadhaar seeding was also relaxed for some of the States. Later on, several technological interventions were introduced, including integration with PFMS, UIDAI, and the Income Tax Department. Further, land seeding was made mandatory along with Aadhaar based payment and e-KYC. The benefits of the farmers, who did not complete these mandatory criteria, were stopped. As and when these farmers complete their mandatory requirements, they become eligible to receive the benefits of the scheme along with their due installments, if any.

Recoveries from ineligible farmers marked due to income tax payee, higher income groups, Govt. employees etc. have been initiated by the concerned State Governments. A total of Rs. 335 Cr. has been recovered from the ineligible beneficiaries so far across the country.

Registration of farmers in the Scheme is an ongoing process. Farmers can self-register themselves online through PM-Kisan Portal. All such applications are approved by the concerned States/UTs after due verification. In the cases, where the required documents/details are not provided by the applicant, the application is liable to be rejected by the State/UT Governments. Once it is approved by the State/UTs, benefit is processed immediately by the Department and the same is released in the subsequent instalment.

Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, all landholding farmers including small and marginal farmers are eligible to receive benefits irrespective of the size of their landholding.

Presently, there is no proposal under consideration to expand the scheme to tenant farmers.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Ram Nath Thakur in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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