Context: The number of beneficiaries the under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme has fallen by 67%  (from nearly 11.8 cr to about 3.8 crs) in the last three years.

Key Reason

• The responsibility of maintaining the data of beneficiaries, remained with the States.

• The Scheme extensively uses digital technologies to verify eligibility of farmers.

• States/ UTs upload the data of eligible farmers after verification of the farmers, in terms of eligibility and exclusion criterion prescribed under the scheme.

• The data of farmers so uploaded by States goes through several validations, through the portals of UIDAI, PFMS, Income Tax Portal and NPCI.

PM-KISAN

• The PM-KISAN Yojana is a government scheme through which, all small and marginal farmers will get up to Rs 6,000 per year as minimum income support.

• It is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from GoI. It has become operational since 1st December 2018.

• Under the PM-KISAN scheme, all landholding farmers’ families shall be provided with the financial benefit of Rs. 6000 per annum per family payable in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each, every four months.

• The definition of the family for the scheme is husband, wife, and minor children.

• State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.

• The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

• Note: Aadhaar was made optional for availing the first instalment (December 2018 – March 2019). But now it is mandatory.

Who are NOT eligible for PM-KISAN?

The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme.

• All Institutional Landholders

Farmer families that belong to one or more of the following categories:

• Former and present holders of constitutional posts

• Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.

• All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries

• All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/-or more. (Excluding Multi-Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of the above category

• All Persons who paid Income Tax in the last assessment year

• Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out the profession by undertaking practices.