New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on June 20, 2026, from Hooghly, West Bengal. Under this instalment, more than ₹18,880 crore was transferred directly to the bank accounts of approximately 9.44 crore eligible farmers across the country through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
According to official information, over 2.18 crore women farmers were among the beneficiaries. More than one crore farmers participated in the event virtually, while the day was also observed as “PM KISAN Utsav Diwas.”
PM-KISAN Continues to Support Farmer Income Security
Launched on February 24, 2019, PM-KISAN provides eligible landholding farmer families with annual financial assistance of ₹6,000, distributed in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
Since its launch, the scheme has disbursed more than ₹4.46 lakh crore to farmer families across India, making it one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer initiatives. The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹60,000 crore for the continuation of the scheme.
The objective of PM-KISAN is to provide income support that helps farmers meet agricultural input expenses, improve crop productivity, and reduce dependence on informal sources of credit.
New Agricultural Initiatives Announced in West Bengal
Alongside the release of the 23rd instalment, several agricultural initiatives were highlighted for West Bengal.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), crop insurance coverage will be extended to farmers against natural disasters, adverse weather events, and pest-related losses.
The Digital Agriculture Mission will support the implementation of AgriStack to facilitate easier access to services such as credit, insurance, procurement, and Direct Benefit Transfers.
The National Mission on Natural Farming will promote sustainable farming practices through cluster-based implementation. According to official information, 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares are expected to benefit more than 43,000 farmers.
Additionally, the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana has been launched in selected districts of West Bengal to improve productivity, strengthen agricultural infrastructure, support diversification, and improve access to irrigation and institutional credit.
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Technology Strengthening PM-KISAN Delivery
The PM-KISAN programme continues to leverage digital technologies for transparency and efficient service delivery. Aadhaar-based verification, e-KYC facilities, the PM-KISAN portal, mobile application, and AI-powered chatbot Kisan-eMitra help farmers access information related to registration, eligibility, and payment status.
The government has also expanded access through Common Service Centres (CSCs), special saturation drives, and farmer outreach programmes to improve coverage under the scheme.
Access to Information Remains Important for Farmers
As agricultural support schemes continue to expand through digital platforms and direct benefit mechanisms, access to timely information remains important for farmers. Platforms such as KisanSabha contribute to the agricultural ecosystem by helping farmers stay connected with agricultural stakeholders, market-related developments, and sector updates. Better access to information can support farmers in understanding available opportunities and making informed decisions related to agriculture and allied activities.
Refernce By:- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2275744®=3&lang=1
