Modi to transfer PM-KISAN installment worth Rs 18,880 cr to 9.44 cr farmers on June 20

The 23rd installment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was released on June 20, 2026, disbursing Rs 18,880 crore directly to over 9.44 crore ...

What Happened

The 23rd installment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was released on June 20, 2026, disbursing Rs 18,880 crore directly to over 9.44 crore farmer beneficiaries across the country.
The transfer was made through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, depositing Rs 2,000 per farmer into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts without intermediaries.
In West Bengal alone, approximately 45.35 lakh farmers received around Rs 907 crore, bringing the state's cumulative total to Rs 15,055 crore since scheme inception.
The national cumulative disbursement under PM-KISAN has now surpassed Rs 4.46 lakh crore since the scheme's launch in February 2019.
Alongside the installment, several complementary agricultural initiatives were launched: the Digital Agriculture Mission Agri-Tech platform, National Natural Farming Mission (covering 346 clusters and 17,300 hectares), Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, and 49 road projects under PMGSY-III worth Rs 213 crore covering over 315 km.

Static Topic Bridges

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

A central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to supplement the income needs of land-holding farmer families. The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each, transferred every four months. The scheme covers all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusions (income tax payers, institutional landholders, and constitutional post-holders).

Launched: February 2019 (first installment released February 24, 2019)
Benefit: Rs 2,000 per installment; Rs 6,000/year per farmer family
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Eligibility condition: Aadhaar seeding + eKYC completion + land records on PM-KISAN portal
Cumulative disbursement (as of 23rd installment): over Rs 4.46 lakh crore

Connection to this news: The 23rd installment marks continued scale-up of this flagship income-support scheme, with beneficiary count at 9.44 crore indicating the extensive penetration of Aadhaar-linked DBT infrastructure.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the JAM Trinity

DBT is a reform initiative that transfers government subsidies and benefits directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, eliminating intermediaries and reducing leakages. It is operationally enabled by the JAM Trinity — Jan Dhan (bank accounts), Aadhaar (biometric identity), and Mobile (connectivity). The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) is used for real-time tracking of fund flows. Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts is a prerequisite for receiving PM-KISAN benefits.

JAM Trinity conceptualized in Economic Survey 2014-15
PFMS: under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
Aadhaar Act 2016: provides legal basis for using Aadhaar for benefit delivery
DBT has been applied to over 300 central schemes across sectors

Connection to this news: The Rs 18,880 crore transfer to 9.44 crore farmers in a single day is among the largest single-day DBT operations in India, demonstrating the scale and efficiency of the JAM-DBT infrastructure.

National Natural Farming Mission

Natural farming is an agroecological practice that avoids synthetic inputs and relies on on-farm bio-inputs derived from cow dung, urine, and other natural materials. The National Natural Farming Mission was approved to bring a significant area under natural farming, reduce input costs for small and marginal farmers, and improve soil health. The mission is aligned with the broader Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) ecosystem.

Focuses on reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers
Supports formation of natural farming clusters at the village level
346 clusters covering 17,300 hectares launched alongside the 23rd PM-KISAN installment
Links to India's commitments on sustainable agriculture under climate frameworks

Connection to this news: The simultaneous launch of natural farming clusters and PM-KISAN installment reflects a policy intent to pair income support with input-cost reduction for farmers.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

PMGSY is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in December 2000 to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations. PMGSY-III (the third phase) focuses on consolidating and upgrading existing rural roads to improve inter-connectivity. Road connectivity is directly linked to agricultural market access and reduction of post-harvest losses.

Launched: December 25, 2000; nodal ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
PMGSY-III approved in 2019 for upgradation of 1.25 lakh km of rural roads
49 road projects worth Rs 213 crore covering 315+ km launched in the current event
Funding: shared between Centre and States (60:40 general; 90:10 for hilly/NE states)

Connection to this news: Rural road connectivity enhances farmers' ability to transport produce to markets, complementing income support under PM-KISAN.

Key Facts & Data

23rd installment amount: Rs 18,880 crore
Beneficiaries: 9.44 crore farmers (nationwide); 45.35 lakh (West Bengal)
West Bengal share: Rs 907 crore (23rd installment); Rs 15,055 crore (cumulative)
Cumulative national disbursement: over Rs 4.46 lakh crore since February 2019
Installment frequency: every 4 months (3 per year); Rs 2,000 per installment
Annual benefit per farmer: Rs 6,000
Prerequisites: Aadhaar-seeded bank account + eKYC + land records on PM-KISAN portal
Transfer mode: DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) via PFMS
Also launched: Digital Agriculture Mission Agri-Tech platform; National Natural Farming Mission (346 clusters, 17,300 ha); PMGSY-III road projects (49 projects, Rs 213 cr, 315+ km)