Scale and Disbursement: Snapshot of Recent Instalments
PM-KISAN’s scale is evident from instalment-level data released by the government. Between FY 2020–21 and FY 2025–26 twenty-one instalments were rolled out. Each instalment typically reaches roughly 80–104 million beneficiaries depending on the period; instalments in FY 2021–22, for instance, disbursed amounts in the range of ₹22,300–22,415 crore per round.
The most recent instalments (20th and 21st for FY 2025–26) recorded distributions to around 97.1 million and 93.4 million beneficiaries respectively, with amounts of ₹20,843.44 crore and ₹18,680.63 crore. These figures demonstrate sustained fiscal commitment and wide coverage across India’s cultivator population.
Evidence of Impact: What Evaluations Reveal
Multiple evaluations and government feedback mechanisms indicate that PM-KISAN has had measurable positive effects on farmers and the rural economy. A 2019 independent assessment by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) found that cash transfers under the scheme eased credit constraints, encouraged productive investments, and helped farmers undertake relatively riskier—but potentially higher-return—agricultural actions.
Similarly, an impact evaluation by NITI Aayog’s Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) reports that over 92% of beneficiaries used the payments for agricultural inputs seeds, fertilisers and pesticides while around 85% noted an increase in agricultural income. The DMEO study also highlighted a significant reduction in dependence on informal credit during shocks, such as crop failure or medical emergencies.
Complementing these findings, the Department of Agriculture’s Kisan Call Centres and field surveys show high beneficiary satisfaction—over 92% reported being satisfied with PM-KISAN, and more than 93% indicated they used funds for agricultural activities.
System Strengths and Operational Notes
PM-KISAN’s success is built on simplified eligibility, digital transfers and layered grievance-handling. Aadhaar-seeded bank transfers have reduced transaction errors and improved delivery speed. At the same time, the government continues to publish instalment-wise beneficiary statistics and amount disbursed to ensure transparency.
However, PM-KISAN is targeted at individual cultivator families rather than collectives or Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). While the direct cash approach strengthens household resilience, other schemes such as PM-FME, AIF and FPO-centric programmes complement PM-KISAN by addressing infrastructure, value-addition and market linkages.
Policy Implications and the Road Ahead
Evaluations suggest PM-KISAN contributes to poverty reduction, improved food security and better agricultural investment patterns—aligning with Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and food security. Continued improvements in Aadhaar-enabled DBT systems and beneficiary verification can further reduce leakages and enhance coverage accuracy.
Policymakers face the task of integrating direct income transfers with broader measures crop insurance, market linkages and digital advisory services to convert short-term cash support into long-term productivity gains. For official details and instalment-wise data, readers can consult the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
