Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a significant move to support India's agricultural community, officially released the 21st installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme on Wednesday. The event was held in the industrious city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, marking another milestone in the government's flagship farmer welfare program.
Direct Financial Support Reaches Beneficiaries
Under this latest disbursal, eligible farmers across the nation will receive a financial benefit of ₹2,000 directly in their bank accounts. This transfer is facilitated through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, ensuring transparency and efficiency by eliminating intermediaries. The government has once again emphasized that completing the eKYC process is mandatory for all registered beneficiaries to receive these funds without interruption.
How to Complete eKYC and Check Your Status
Farmers have multiple avenues to fulfill the compulsory eKYC requirement. They can perform an OTP-based eKYC directly on the official PM Kisan portal. For those who prefer or require in-person assistance, biometric verification is available at the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).
A technologically advanced option allows farmers to complete their eKYC using mobile-based face recognition. The steps are straightforward: download the official PM Kisan app and the Aadhaar Face RD app from the Google Play Store, log in with the registered mobile number, and follow the on-screen instructions for face authentication. Any eKYC completed via the portal, mobile app, or at a CSC is typically updated in the beneficiary's status within 24 hours.
To check their payment status, beneficiaries can use the "Know Your Status" feature located in the "Farmers Corner" section of the PM Kisan portal. For real-time updates on eKYC progress, farmers can also utilize the KYS module or interact with the Kisan-eMitra, the scheme's AI-powered chatbot.
Verifying Eligibility and Understanding Exclusions
It is crucial for farmers to confirm their eligibility for the scheme. They can do this by checking the official beneficiary list on the PM Kisan website. The process involves visiting the portal, navigating to "Farmers Corner", selecting "Beneficiary List", and then filtering by State, District, Block, and Village to generate a report of all registered beneficiaries in that area.
The government has clarified that some farmers may not receive the 21st installment immediately. Payments have been temporarily put on hold for cases where eligibility is under review. This includes individuals who obtained land ownership after the cut-off date of February 1, 2019, and families where more than one member, such as both spouses or an adult and a minor, is registered to receive benefits. For these cases, the funds will be released only after a successful physical verification process is completed.
This continued rollout of financial aid underscores the central government's commitment to bolstering the income and stability of the farming sector in India, providing a crucial safety net for millions.
