Lok Sabha Question No. 1370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Beneficiary under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia, Shri Vijay Kumar Hansdak, Shri K C Venugopal, Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1370

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## BENEFICIARY UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI

1370. Shri Vijay Kumar Hansdak: Shri Tanuj Punia: Shri K C Venugopal: Shri Anto Antony:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the  Government has conducted an audit  of the PM-KISAN scheme to identify ineligible beneficiaries receiving payments;

(b)  if  so,  the  total  number  of  ineligible  beneficiaries  identified,  with  a  State-wise breakdown and the amount recovered so far, State-wise;

(c) the list of beneficiary cancellations since the inception of the scheme, along with the primary reasons for these cancellations, year-wise and State-wise;

(d) the steps taken to ensure that only eligible small and marginal farmers benefit to from the scheme; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to expand the scheme to benefit tenant farmers, if so, details thereof and if not, reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b) The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under this scheme, the financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments every four months is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers' families across  the  country  through  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT)  mode.  The  PM-KISAN scheme is one of the largest DBT Schemes of the World.

A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of the middlemen. Maintaining  absolute  transparency  in  registering  and  verifying  beneficiaries,  the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.46 lakh Cr in 18 instalments, so far.

The scheme initially started on a trust-based system, where beneficiaries were registered by the states on self-certification basis. Initially, Aadhaar seeding was also relaxed  for  some  of  the  States.  Later  on,  several  technological  interventions  were introduced, including integration with PFMS, UIDAI, and the Income Tax Department. Further, land seeding was made mandatory along with Aadhaar based payment and e-KYC. The benefits of the farmers, who did not complete these mandatory criteria, were stopped. As and when these farmers complete their mandatory requirements, they will receive the benefits of the scheme along with their due installments, if any.

Recoveries from ineligible farmers marked due to income tax payee, higher income  groups,  Govt.  employees  etc.  have  been  initiated  by  the  concerned  State Governments.  A  total  of  Rs.  335  Cr.  has  been  recovered  from  the  ineligible beneficiaries so far across the country.

(c)   Registration of farmers in the Scheme is an ongoing process. Farmers can selfregister  themselves  online  through  PM-Kisan  Portal.  All  such  applications  are approved by the concerned States/UTs after due verification. In the cases, where the required documents/details are not provided by the applicant, the application is liable to be rejected by the State/UT Governments. Once it is approved by the State/UTs, benefit is processed immediately by the Department and the same is released in the subsequent instalment.

(d) Under  the  PM-KISAN  Scheme,  all  landholding  farmers  including  small  and marginal  farmers  are  eligible  to  receive  benefits  irrespective  of  the  size  of  their landholding.

(e) Presently, there is no proposal under consideration to expand the scheme to tenant farmers.

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