PM to release next instalment under PM-KISAN on December 25; More than Rs 18,000 crore to be disbursed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the next instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on December 25, 2020, at 12 noon via video conferencing. The day collides with the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.'

With the push of a button, the Prime Minister will enable the transfer of more than Rs. 18,000 crores to more than 9 crores beneficiary farmer families.

Prime Minister will also have a conversation with farmers from six different States during the event. The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the Government for the welfare of farmers. Union Agriculture Minister will also be present on the occasion.

The programme comes amid protests by various farmer unions against three farm laws recently enacted by the Modi government. The government has insisted that these reforms are in the interest of farmers.

Addressing the farmers at the `Kisan Kalyan` event in Raisen through video conferencing last week, PM Modi had said that he will discuss issues related to farmers on the Birth Anniversary of Vajpayee adding that crores of farmers will get another instalment of PM Kisan Scheme on the very day.

About PM KISAN

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year is provided to the eligible beneficiary farmers, payable in three equal 4-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019. The Scheme aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions.

PM-KISAN Scheme exclusions

Those excluded from the PM-KISAN include institutional landholders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of State or Central government as well as Public Sector Undertakings and Government Autonomous bodies. Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also not eligible for the benefits.