PM Modi to Release ₹20,500 Crore 20th Instalment of PM-Kisan Scheme from Varanasi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today release the 20th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, providing ₹20,500 crore in financial assistance to nearly 9.7 crore small and marginal farmers across India. The event will take place in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP), with the state accounting for about 25% of the total beneficiaries.

Launched on December 1, 2018, PM-KISAN is a central government initiative aimed at supplementing farmers’ incomes by transferring ₹6,000 annually to eligible beneficiaries in three equal instalments. According to official data, approximately 2.3 crore farmers from Uttar Pradesh are expected to receive funds in this instalment. UP Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi highlighted the significance of the release during the ongoing Kharif season, noting that the assistance will help farmers meet expenses related to farming and irrigation.

In the 2024-25 financial year, around 2.38 crore farmers in the state benefited from the scheme. The Uttar Pradesh government has been actively screening the beneficiary list to ensure efficient and transparent fund distribution. “We are committed to ensuring that every eligible farmer receives their due share without delay,” Shahi stated.

To maximize outreach, the state has planned virtual engagements with farmers at district, block, and panchayat levels during the release event. A directive from Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Ravinder instructed divisional commissioners and district magistrates to make arrangements for public representatives, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) to join the interactions.

The PM-KISAN scheme remains one of the largest direct benefit transfer (DBT) programs in the country, designed to provide assured income support to farmers irrespective of crop type or landholding size, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. By directly crediting funds into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, the initiative aims to reduce leakages and ensure timely assistance.

Today’s release not only underscores the central government’s commitment to rural welfare but also reflects Uttar Pradesh’s pivotal role in the program’s implementation, given its substantial share of the farming population. The combination of central funding and state-level coordination is expected to bolster agricultural productivity and provide much-needed relief during the critical sowing season.