In a major boost for India's farming community, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme for another five years, ensuring continued income support to millions of farmers across the country. The scheme, one of the government's flagship welfare initiatives for the agricultural sector, will now continue from the financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of ₹3,15,614 crore.
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government has allocated more than ₹3.15 lakh crore to continue providing direct financial assistance to eligible farmer families. The extension is expected to strengthen the financial security of farmers while supporting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
Under the PM-KISAN scheme, eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 annually, which is transferred directly into their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The assistance is provided in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each, timed to coincide with the agricultural crop cycle. This ensures that farmers receive funds when they need them most for purchasing seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and other essential farm inputs.
According to the government, the timely release of instalments helps reduce the financial burden on farmers during sowing and crop preparation seasons. It also minimises their dependence on informal moneylenders and high-interest loans, allowing them to invest in cultivation without facing severe cash shortages.
The scheme has emerged as a lifeline for small and marginal farmers, who constitute the majority of its beneficiaries. Since its launch, more than ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts through 23 instalments, making PM-KISAN one of the largest direct income support programmes in the world.
The government has cited an assessment by NITI Aayog, which found that the scheme has contributed to improving farmers' incomes and reducing their reliance on informal sources of credit. The Cabinet's decision to extend PM-KISAN for another five years is therefore being viewed as a significant relief measure for the farming community, especially amid rising input costs and other agricultural challenges.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme during an event in Hooghly district of West Bengal. The programme was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture with the support of the Government of West Bengal, benefiting eligible farmers across the country.
In another important decision, the Union Cabinet approved the 'Samudra Manthan' – National Offshore Exploration Scheme with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore for implementation up to the financial year 2030-31. While the initiative focuses on offshore exploration and resource development, the extension of PM-KISAN remained the most significant decision from the Cabinet meeting because of its direct impact on millions of farming families.
With the scheme now extended till 2030-31, the government aims to ensure uninterrupted financial assistance to farmers, strengthen rural incomes, and promote sustainable agricultural growth. The continued support is expected to help farmers meet cultivation expenses, improve productivity, and contribute to the overall development of India's agricultural economy.
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