PM-Kisan Scheme: Crores of farmers are waiting for the Centre to release the 21st installment of Rs 2,000 under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. The government has so far released two instalments this year, in February and August. Farmers were expecting the new installment before the start of the festive season. After that, some reports suggested that the next tranche could be announced ahead of the Bihar polls. Last year, the third installment was credited in the month of February.
But now, the festive season has passed, the Bihar elections are over, yet the 21st installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme has not been credited to farmers’ bank accounts.
Every year, the Centre releases three installments of Rs 2,000 each under the PM-Kisan. Together, a farmer receives Rs 6,000 annually, directly into their bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
This year, the 20th installment was credited on August 2, 2025, and before that, the 19th installment was released in February 2025. Given this pattern, many expected the next tranche — the 21st installment — to arrive before Diwali (October 21). Some even believed it could come before the Bihar Assembly elections, but neither happened.
Around 10 crore farmers were beneficiaries of PM-Kisan scheme in August this year. The government, however, withheld the installment for lakhs of farmers due to KYC discrepancies or flouting of eligibility norms. Those farmers who did not receive the 20th installment due to some technical reasons like incomplete KYC will be given the pending Rs 2,000 along with the next installment. This means there will be many who will receive Rs 4,000 (20th and 21st installments) in their bank accounts as PM-Kisan benefit.
Now, with both festive season and Bihar polls behind us, the delay has become a matter of growing concern among beneficiaries.
How the release schedule has shifted this year
In 2024, the government maintained a relatively tight schedule for PM-KISAN payouts — the 17th installment was released on June 18, followed by the 18th installment on October 5.
This meant that farmers received two payments within a span of less than four months. In contrast, 2025 has seen a much wider gap between installments. The 19th installment came on February 24, 2025, while the 20th installment was credited on August 2, 2025 — over five months later.
Now, even as the year nears its end, the 21st installment is yet to be released. Compared to 2024, when payments were spaced fairly evenly across the year, the 2025 schedule reflects a clear delay.
Why the delay this time?
While the government hasn’t made any official statement yet, several reasons are being speculated:
Ongoing beneficiary verification: The government has been running a large-scale verification drive to weed out ineligible and fake beneficiaries.
KYC and land-record updation: Many state governments are still updating farmers’ e-KYC and land ownership data, which is mandatory for payment release.
Sources suggest the payment could be released by late November or early December, once all verifications are complete.
PM-Kisan: A lifeline for small and marginal farmers
Launched in 2019, the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is one of the Modi government’s flagship schemes for farmers. Under it, every eligible farmer family receives Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each.
The funds are directly transferred to the farmers’ bank accounts through DBT, ensuring transparency and eliminating middlemen. The money helps small and marginal farmers meet expenses related to seeds, fertilizers and other inputs.
As of now, more than 11 crore farmers are registered under the scheme, making it one of the largest direct cash transfer programs in the world.
Eligibility and KYC rules: What farmers must ensure
To receive PM-KISAN benefits, farmers must:
-Be citizens of India owning cultivable land in their name.
-Complete e-KYC on the official PM-KISAN portal.
-Link their Aadhaar card with their bank account.
-Have their land records verified by the respective state government.
-Government employees, income-tax payers, and institutional landholders are not eligible for this benefit.
Government cracks down on fake beneficiaries
In recent months, the government has taken several stringent measures to eliminate fake entries and ineligible beneficiaries.
States have been asked to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC and land record verification before releasing the next installment.
What to expect next
While no official release date has been confirmed yet, it’s expected that the 21st installment may arrive by late November or early December 2025, once verification formalities are complete.
Until then, farmers are advised to check their beneficiary status and ensure their e-KYC is updated on the PM-KISAN portal (pmkisan.gov.in).
