TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 15, 2025: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has clarified that under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana, multiple farmer families registered under a single land account will be entitled to receive benefits separately, provided each family meets the eligibility criteria. This provision ensures that the financial aid of ₹6,000 per year, offered in three equal installments of ₹2,000, reaches every eligible family unit and not merely the land account holder.
According to the guidelines of the scheme, the term ‘farmer family’ is defined as a unit comprising husband, wife, and minor children. This means that if more than one such family is linked to the same landholding record, each of them will be treated independently and will receive the annual financial assistance directly in their bank accounts. Officials explained that this approach avoids confusion regarding ownership of joint landholdings and secures the benefits for every eligible household, thus widening the social safety net for small and marginal farmers.
Launched by the Government of India in 2019, the PM-Kisan Yojana was introduced to provide assured income support to small and marginal farming households across the country. It has since become one of the largest direct benefit transfer (DBT) programmes, designed to bring financial stability to the rural economy and reduce the dependency of farmers on informal credit systems. The scheme is also seen as an important step in strengthening the backbone of India’s agricultural sector by ensuring that farmers receive timely financial aid to meet their farming as well as household needs.
In Chhattisgarh, the scheme has had a wide reach. As of February 2025, more than 25.47 lakh farmer families in the state have been provided benefits amounting to ₹553.34 crore as part of the 20th installment of the scheme. Officials emphasized that the entire transfer is conducted through DBT to maintain complete transparency and to ensure that only genuine farmers receive the benefit. Across the country, crores of farmer families are already availing the scheme, making it a significant milestone in rural welfare and agricultural policy.
While expanding the ambit of benefits, the Ministry also reiterated that not all categories of landholders are eligible under the PM-Kisan scheme. Those excluded include institutional landholders, former and present constitutional post holders, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, ministers, mayors, and district panchayat presidents. Similarly, officers and employees of central and state government ministries and departments, except Class IV staff, as well as retired employees drawing pensions of ₹10,000 or more per month, are not covered. Families that pay income tax also remain outside the scope of the scheme.
The government maintains that the objective of the PM-Kisan Yojana is to provide targeted income support of ₹6,000 annually to genuine small and medium farming families. By continuing to verify and update beneficiary lists at the state and district levels, authorities are ensuring that no eligible farmer is deprived of assistance. At the same time, the exclusion rules prevent misuse and ensure that the limited resources of the scheme benefit only those who need them most.
Through these measures, the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has emerged as a crucial pillar of rural support in India, promising not only direct monetary relief but also restoring dignity and security to millions of farmer households, including those who share landholdings under joint ownership.
