Farmers Welfare Division of this Department is entrusted with the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the two Schemes namely, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and Pradhan Matri Kisan Mandhan Yojana (PMKMY).

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

The objective of the scheme is to augment the income of families of all Farmers who own cultivable landholding, subject to certain exclusions. The scheme was launched on 24th February, 2019 with an aim to supplement the financial needs of the Small and marginal Farmers (SMFs) to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs. This would also protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities. Later, w.e.f. 01/04/2019, the scope of the Scheme was expanded to cover all land holding farmers, subject to certain exclusions.

The number of potential beneficiaries under the scheme has been estimated on the basis of projection of Agricultural Census 2015-16 data for 2018-19. The projected number of holding of SMFs landholder farmer has been taken as 12.50 crore. The existing land-ownership system shall be used for identification of beneficiaries for calculation of financial benefit under the scheme.

The Scheme is effective from 1st December, 2018. The Scheme aims to provide a payment of Rs. 6000/- per year to be transferred in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000/- every four months into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries.

A National level review committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary with Secretaries of Department of Economic Affairs, Agriculture, Land Resources and Information & Technology to review and monitor implementation of the Scheme. A high level committee of Union Ministers has also been set up comprising of Union Ministers of Finance, Agriculture and Land Resources for making necessary modifications in the Scheme. Another high level committee has been set up comprising of Union Ministers of Ministry of Development of North-East Region (DoNER), Ministry of Land Resources, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and concerned State Chief Ministers or State nominated Minister of North-East States for developing alternate implementation mechanism of eligibility for farmers in those states of North-East where land ownership rights are community based.

For effective implementation of the Scheme, detailed Operational Guidelines have been issued which are amended from time-to-time as and when considered necessary.

The Scheme is being implemented online through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode for which an exclusive web-portal www.pmkisan.gov.in has been created. The identification of beneficiaries for the Scheme is the sole responsibility of the State/UT Governments which upload their necessary details on the PM-KISAN portal for enabling transfer of benefits to them.

For effective implementation, review and monitoring of the scheme, a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) at Central level has been set up in DA&FW. The PMU shall undertake publicity campaign (Information, Education and Communication-IEC) activities. The PMU will provide such administrative, technical and other support to the Scheme as required within the framework of the Scheme for its effective and efficient implementation.

Pradhan Matri Kisan Mandhan Yojana (PMKMY)

The Government of India has introduced a pension scheme for all Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF), namely, the “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PMKMY)”, as a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the entry age group of 18 to 40 years. The scheme was formally launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 12.09.2019.

The Scheme was launched with a view to create a social security net for the farmers as old age would result in loss of livelihood for most of them. Farming requires manual work which becomes difficult at an advanced age. The problem is compounded in respect of small and marginal farmers as they have minimal or no savings to provide for old age.

Benefits under the Scheme

It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, under which the subscriber would receive the following benefits:

(i) Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PMKMY shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs. 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.

(ii) Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.

(iii) If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.

Beneficiaries of the scheme

All Small and Marginal landholder farmers who collectively own cultivable land upto 2 hectare as per land records of the concerned State/UT” are eligible to be enrolled under the Scheme.The existing land-ownership system is being used for identification of beneficiaries’ subject to certain exclusion criteria.

Key features of the Scheme

(i) The PM-KMY is a Central Sector Scheme administered by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare in partnership with LIC.

(ii) LIC is the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.

(iii) Nodal Agencies of the State Governments who are dealing with PM-KISAN shall be involved for the purpose of enrolment of SMF under the Scheme. Additionally, inclusion of the Common Service Centres (CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.,) under MeitY, Government of India is also serving as enrolment agency for the Scheme at the rate of Rs.30/- per enrolment.

(iv) It is a voluntary and periodic contribution based pension system meant for all small and marginal farmers throughout the country, subject to exclusion criteria.

(v) Option of the SMF shall be available to allow his/her voluntary contribution to the Scheme from the benefit drawn by him/her on account of PM-KISAN Scheme, directly.

(vi) The exclusion criteria, that have been adopted under the PM-KISAN Scheme, have been incorporated along with a few more conditions.

(vii) The Central Government’s share will be 50% of the monthly contribution.

(viii) This Scheme is applicable to all SMF of the entry age of 18-40 years with a provision of minimum fixed pension of Rs. 3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years.

(ix) After the subscriber’s death, while receiving pension, the spouse of the SMF beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension, provided he/she is not already an SMF beneficiary of the Scheme.

(x) If a beneficiary has given regular contributions and died due to any cause, his/her spouse shall be entitled to continue the Scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit by receiving the beneficiary’s contribution with prevailing bank rates of interest, provided he/she is not already an SMF beneficiary of the Scheme.

(xi) After death of subscriber and his/her spouse, the corpus shall be credited back to the fund.

(xii) The State/UT Governments have the option of sharing the burden of individual SMF beneficiary’s contribution.

(xiii) If a beneficiary becomes ineligible for the Pension under PM-KMY, his account will be active but Government’s contribution (50%) shall be stopped. If beneficiary agrees to pay the entire amount of the contribution, he will be allowed to operate the account. At the age of 60, he shall be allowed to withdraw his contribution with an interest equivalent to the prevailing saving bank rates.

(xiv) The beneficiary may opt voluntarily to exit the Scheme after a minimum period of 5 years of regular contributions. On exit, his/her entire contribution shall be returned by LIC with an interest equivalent to prevailing saving bank rates.

(xv) Where an eligible subscriber makes a default in the payment of any contribution to be payable by him/her under the Scheme, he/she shall be allowed to regularize his/her contribution by paying the entire outstanding dues, along with interest of the rate as determined by the Government from time to time.

(xvi) The issue of liability on account of deficit in the fund maintained by LIC may be decided after due deliberations between Finance Ministry and LIC.

(xvii) The prospective beneficiaries shall be able to access the scheme either through portal or contacting physically the SNOs/CSCs as the case may be, in their respective districts.

Modalities of Implementation:

It is proposed to utilize the data base available with the Department in the first instance i.e., the data base created under the PM-KISAN Scheme. For this purpose, it is proposed that the State Nodal Officers (SNO) in the States dealing with PM-KISAN may be roped in for the purpose of enrolment of farmers. This would help the farmers who are already drawing benefits under the PM-KISAN Scheme. Option shall also be given to the farmers to allow contribution of his/her share to the PM-KMY Scheme from the benefits of PM-KISAN Scheme, directly.

The farmers can also enroll with the Common Service Centres (CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.,) under MeitY, Government of India which also serves as enrolment agency for the Scheme at the rate of Rs.30/- per enrolment . The operational guidelines for the Scheme including those relating to mode of payment, the tenure of deposit, auto-debit and other related matters for its smooth implementation has been issued with the approval of Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare with the Life Insurance Corporation of India and Department of Financial Services which stipulates the duties and responsibilities of the Implementing Department, State Government, Life Insurance Corporation, Department of Financial Services, MeiTY and the other organizations involved in the Scheme.