PM-KISAN: Overview, Process Flow, and Application

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a flagship Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the Government of India. Designed as a direct income support mechanism for landholding farming families across the nation, the initiative provides financial assistance to help meet agricultural input expenses and domestic needs.

1. Scheme Fundamentals & Overview

• Financial Benefit: Eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 per year.
• Disbursement Structure: Paid in three equal installments of ₹2,000 every four months (April–July, August–November, and December–March).
• Payment Mode: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) deposited directly into Aadhaar-seeded, active bank accounts.
• Funding & Ownership: 100% funded by the Central Government, with state/UT governments handling land verification and beneficiary identification.

2. Eligibility Framework & Exclusion Criteria

Who Is Eligible?

• All landholding farmer families with cultivable land registered in their name (registered in state land/revenue records on or before February 1, 2019).
• “Family Unit” is defined as husband, wife, and minor children. (Note: Only one benefit is allowed per family unit).

Who Is Excluded?

To ensure benefits reach genuine agricultural producers, the government enforces strict exclusion rules:

• Non-Landowners: Tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and landless agricultural laborers.
• Income Tax Payers: Any family member who filed Income Tax in the last assessment year.
• Institutional Landholders: Lands owned by trusts, organizations, or government bodies.
• Public Office Holders: Serving or former MPs, MLAs, Mayors, or Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
• Government Employees: Active or retired employees of Central/State Ministries, PSUs, or local bodies (excluding Group D / Multi-Tasking Staff / Class IV workers).
• High-Pensioners: Retired individuals drawing a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more.
• Registered Professionals: Practicing Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects.

3. End-to-End PM-KISAN Process Flow

The PM-KISAN workflow connects land verification at the district level with Aadhaar-linked payment processing at the central level:

1.1. Application & Data Submission:

Farmer submits details (Aadhaar, Land Khasra/Khatauni numbers, Bank Account, Mobile Number) via the PM-KISAN Portal, PM-KISAN App, or CSC.

2.2. State Land & Data Verification:

Village Level Officers (Patwari/Revenue Officials) verify land ownership records, plot area, and eligibility against state land registry systems.

3.3. District & Nodal Approval:

District Agriculture Officers approve the verified list and upload the beneficiary records to the State PM-KISAN Nodal Portal.

4.4. Identity & Aadhaar Validation:

Data is transmitted to the Central PM-KISAN Portal, where Aadhaar details are validated via UIDAI to verify identity and check for duplicate claims.

5.5. RFT & FTO Generation:

Upon successful validation, the state signs a Request for Transfer (RFT), and the central system generates a Fund Transfer Order (FTO).

6.6. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT):

Funds are credited directly into the farmer’s NPCI-seeded bank account through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) routing.

4. How to Apply: Step-by-Step Methods

Method 1: Self-Registration via Official PM-KISAN Portal

1. Visit the official portal: pmkisan.gov.in.
2. In the Farmers Corner section, select “New Farmer Registration”.
3. Choose Rural Farmer Registration or Urban Farmer Registration.
4. Enter your Aadhaar Number, Mobile Number, select your State, and enter the Captcha. Click “Get OTP”.
5. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
6. Complete the form details: State, District, Sub-District, Block, Village, Category (SC/ST/General), and Bank Details.
7. Enter Land Record details: Survey/Khata Number, Khasra Number, and Total Land Area.
8. Upload required document scans (Land Revenue Document / Khasra-Khatauni, Aadhaar, Bank Passbook) and click Save.

Method 2: Registration via Common Service Centre (CSC)

• Visit the nearest CSC with physical copies of your Aadhaar Card, Land Record (7/12 extract / Khatauni), and Bank Account Passbook.
• The Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) fills out the online registration on your behalf, authenticates land records, uploads documents, and submits the form.

Method 3: Mobile App (PMKISAN GoI) with Face Authentication

• Download the PMKISAN GoI app from Google Play Store.
• Select New Farmer Registration, enter your Aadhaar number, and complete authentication using Face RD App (eKYC via facial recognition).

5. Mandatory Annual eKYC Protocol

To prevent leakages and ensure continuous disbursement of installments, eKYC is mandatory for all beneficiaries.

eKYC Mode	Requirements	Procedure
OTP-Based (Free)	Mobile linked with Aadhaar	Go to pmkisan.gov.in → Click eKYC → Enter Aadhaar → Verify with OTP.
Face Authentication	Smartphone + PMKISAN App + Aadhaar Face RD App	Open PMKISAN App → Log in → Select eKYC → Scan face via smartphone camera.
Biometric (CSC)	Physical presence at CSC center	Fingerprint or iris scan authentication at CSC ( nominal service fee applies).

6. Verification Checklist & Status Tracking

How to Check Your Application / Installment Status

1. Visit pmkisan.gov.in and navigate to “Know Your Status” under Farmers Corner.
2. Enter your Registration Number (or click “Know Your Registration Number” using Aadhaar/Mobile).
3. View your payment grid. Ensure the following three checks display “YES”:
   • Land Seeding: Yes
   • eKYC Status: Yes
   • Aadhaar Bank Account Seeding (NPCI): Yes

Helpdesk & Grievance Contacts

• PM-KISAN Helpline:155261 / 1800-11-5526 (Toll-Free)
• AI Chatbot: Kisan e-Mitra (available in 11 regional languages on the portal)

The PM-KISAN Portal (pmkisan.gov.in) serves as the centralized digital infrastructure for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the portal provides a single-window interface for farmers to register, track payments, update details, and perform mandatory verifications.

Key Features Available on the Portal (“Farmers Corner”)

The Farmers Corner on the homepage offers self-service modules:

• New Farmer Registration: Allows landholding farmers to submit personal, land, and bank account details for new scheme enrollments.
• eKYC Authentication: Provides instant OTP-based eKYC verification for farmers whose mobile numbers are linked to Aadhaar.
• Know Your Status: Enables beneficiaries to monitor real-time approval status, land seeding compliance, Aadhaar-bank account linking, and installment payment progress.
• Edit/Update Self Registration & Aadhaar Details: Fixes spelling mismatches between land/bank records and Aadhaar cards.
• Beneficiary List: Displays village-wise and district-wise lists of verified beneficiaries.
• Voluntary Surrender & Refund: Options for ineligible taxpayers/pensioners to voluntarily surrender benefits or refund received installments.
• Helpdesk / Grievance Management: Allows farmers to lodge technical queries or report payment delays.

Alternate Portal Access Channels

For farmers with limited internet access or preferring mobile access, the portal functions across these channels:

1. PM-KISAN Mobile App: Offers features like registration, status tracking, and Face Authentication-based eKYC (eliminating the need for OTPs or fingerprint scanners).
2. CSC / e-Mitra Login: Enables Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) at local Common Service Centres to process biometric-based eKYC and online registrations on behalf of farmers.
3. Kisan e-Mitra AI Chatbot: An integrated AI assistant on the portal supporting query resolution in local Indian languages via speech and text.