PM-KISAN sends ₹4,482 crore to 2.24 crore Uttar Pradesh farmers
Before Diwali, more than 2.24 crore farmers in Uttar Pradesh got ₹2,000 each in their bank accounts under the PM-KISAN scheme, ₹4,482.19 crore in all. The scheme was launched from Gorakhpur in 2019 and Uttar Pradesh has the most beneficiaries in India. Read it to revise how PM-KISAN works, who can get it and where it falls short.
- Instalment
- 24th, released 30 October
- Uttar Pradesh
- ₹4,482.19 crore to 2.24 crore farmers
- India
- ₹18,690 crore to 9.34 crore farmers
- Launched
- Gorakhpur, 24 February 2019
The PM-KISAN instalment: what happened?
₹2,000 may look small, but at sowing time it can pay for seed or fertiliser. Sent to crores of farmers at once, it is one of the world’s largest direct cash transfers.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 24th instalment of PM-KISAN from Banaskantha, Gujarat, on Friday, 30 October.
- The Centre sent ₹18,690 crore to more than 9.34 crore farmers across India through direct benefit transfer.
- In Uttar Pradesh, more than 2.24 crore farmers received ₹4,482.19 crore.
- With this, Uttar Pradesh farmers have received ₹1,07,943.95 crore under the scheme so far. Across India, the total has crossed ₹4.64 lakh crore in 24 instalments.
- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the State’s farmers.
What is PM-KISAN?
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) gives eligible farmer families ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000, paid directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts.
It was launched by the Prime Minister at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on 24 February 2019. It is a Central Sector Scheme, so the Centre pays the full cost, while States identify and verify farmers.
Land records decide who is a farmer. Some groups are excluded, such as income tax payers, people holding constitutional posts, serving or retired government officers (except certain lower staff), professionals like doctors and lawyers, and pensioners getting ₹10,000 or more a month.
Farmers must complete e-KYC and link Aadhaar with their bank account to get the money.
How big is the transfer?
| Level | Farmers | Amount (24th instalment) |
|---|---|---|
| India | Over 9.34 crore | ₹18,690 crore |
| Uttar Pradesh | Over 2.24 crore | ₹4,482.19 crore |
| Per farmer | — | ₹2,000 |
Which laws and Articles apply?
- Agriculture is a State subject (Entry 14, State List), but the Centre funds PM-KISAN fully as a Central Sector Scheme.
- Article 282: the Centre can make grants for any public purpose.
- Aadhaar Act, 2016: Aadhaar-based direct benefit transfer.
- Article 48: the State shall organise agriculture on modern lines (Directive Principle).
Why does the PM-KISAN instalment matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Farm income | Gives steady cash support before sowing seasons. |
| Direct benefit transfer | Money goes straight to bank accounts, cutting leakages. |
| Uttar Pradesh | The State has the most beneficiaries in India. |
| Fiscal angle | A large, recurring cost for the Centre. |
What are the problems with the PM-KISAN instalment?
- Tenant farmers and sharecroppers without land records are left out.
- ₹6,000 a year is small compared to rising costs of farming.
- Errors in land records and Aadhaar seeding stop payments.
- Some ineligible people have received money and had to return it.
What should be done next on the PM-KISAN instalment?
- Find ways to include tenant farmers and landless cultivators.
- Clean up land records through digital mapping.
- Link the support with soil health, crop insurance and credit.
- Run special camps to complete e-KYC and Aadhaar seeding.
What can Prelims ask on the PM-KISAN instalment?
Prelims probability: Expect a question on PM-KISAN: ₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000; a Central Sector Scheme fully paid by the Centre; launched at Gorakhpur on 24 February 2019.
- PM-KISAN: ₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000.
- Central Sector Scheme: fully paid by the Centre.
- Launched at Gorakhpur on 24 February 2019.
- 24th instalment: ₹18,690 crore to over 9.34 crore farmers (30 October 2026).
- Income tax payers and pensioners getting ₹10,000 or more a month are excluded.
How to write about the PM-KISAN instalment in Mains
Practice question (UP PCS Mains GS-VI, 8 marks, 125 words): Direct income support schemes like PM-KISAN have helped farmers but cannot solve farm distress alone. Discuss with reference to Uttar Pradesh.
- Intro: 24th instalment; ₹4,482.19 crore to 2.24 crore UP farmers.
- How PM-KISAN works; benefits of direct transfer.
- Gaps: tenants left out, small amount, record errors.
- Complementary steps: MSP, insurance, credit, irrigation.
- Conclusion: cash support plus long-term farm reform.
Ready lines for your answer
- Cash in the bank before sowing gives farmers breathing space.
- Income support works best alongside fair prices and insurance.
Quotable data pointUttar Pradesh farmers have received ₹1,07,943.95 crore under PM-KISAN so far.
Photo: ankur mishra, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Exam angle
Prelims: PM-KISAN amount, type of scheme, exclusions. · Mains GS-III: farm income support, direct benefit transfer.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
With reference to PM-KISAN, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in which States share the cost.
2. It was launched at Gorakhpur in 2019.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (b) & explanation
PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme, fully paid by the Centre. It was launched at Gorakhpur on 24 February 2019.
Under PM-KISAN, an eligible farmer family receives in a year:
Answer (c) & explanation
₹6,000 a year, paid in three instalments of ₹2,000 each.
Which of the following persons is NOT eligible for PM-KISAN?
Answer (b) & explanation
Income tax payers are excluded from PM-KISAN.
Questions students ask about this
How much did Uttar Pradesh farmers get in the 24th PM-KISAN instalment?
₹4,482.19 crore, credited to more than 2.24 crore farmers.
How much does a farmer get under PM-KISAN?
₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000.
Where and when was PM-KISAN launched?
At Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on 24 February 2019.
Is PM-KISAN a Centrally Sponsored Scheme?
No. It is a Central Sector Scheme, fully paid for by the Centre.