PM-Kisan: Rs 63,500 Crore Approved for Farmers; Funds Expected by February End

• The central government has allocated Rs 63,500 crore for the PM-Kisan scheme for the financial year 2026-27, maintaining last year's funding level.
• Launched in 2019, the scheme provides Rs 6,000 annually to over 10 crore eligible farmers in three direct instalments, with over Rs 3.70 lakh crore credited since inception.
• Despite farmer demands for increased assistance due to rising cultivation costs (suggesting Rs 9,000-Rs 12,000), the government retained the existing allocation for fiscal discipline.
• Expenditure has fluctuated, with Rs 61,441 crore spent in 2023-24 and a revised allocation of Rs 66,121 crore for 2024-25, showing adjustments based on beneficiary numbers.
• To enhance transparency and prevent misuse, the e-KYC process has been tightened, ensuring only farmers with verified land records receive benefits; the next Rs 2,000 instalment is expected in the last week of February.

Why It Matters: PM-Kisan scheme maintains Rs 63,500 crore allocation; next instalment due by February end.