PM-Kisan 20th Instalment Released: Complete Guide To Status, Eligibility, eKYC, And Impact

Since 2019, the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has provided direct income support to small and marginal farmers with no interruptions. The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to the livelihood of farmers by announcing the release of the 20th instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi from Varanasi on 2 August 2025. This transfer will provide additional liquidity for farming households at the start of important crop cycles, along with digital transparency and inclusion by way of eKYC and fraud messaging.

What Is The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme?

The PM-Kisan programme provides income support to small and marginal farmers across the Indian states and Union territories. Each eligible farmer receives an amount of ₹6,000 per annum in three equal instalments directly from the Prime Minister's office (PMO) into their bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on behalf of the Government of India. The programme is meant to provide supplemental income to help farmers afford inputs and other costs related to the cultivation of agricultural products, and ultimately to abolish confusion and provide stability.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifying Conditions for PM-Kisan stipulate registration and regular verification. The primary conditions for eligibility are:

• The farmer is registered as a beneficiary in the PM-Kisan Portal.

• The farmer has cultivated agricultural land by the government's definition of "small and marginal" categories of ownership.

• The farmer has completed the linking and verification of their Aadhaar number.

• The farmer has an active DBT-eligible bank account.

• The farmer has completed e-KYC if required (i.e, pending e-KYC can withhold or delay instalments).

Exclusions apply to higher income tax brackets, individuals who are government employees, and institutional land-owners (see official guidelines for specifics).

Also Read: PM Surya Ghar Yojana: A Bright Sword

eKYC Process

EKYC verification avoids duplication or fraud, i.e. ensures that it is the correct individual who is receiving the transfer. Three methods are in place; they differ in flow and compatibility in terms of the availability of local access and devices.

The government has given various options for completing eKYC to suit different farmers with varying levels of digital readiness:

OTP-Based eKYC

EKYC of farmers can be done over the Internet:

Step 1: Log in to the PM-Kisan portal and choose the eKYC option.

Step 2: Fill in your Aadhaar number.

Step 3: OTP is sent to the registered mobile number.

Step 4: Enter the OTP to do the verification instantly.

Biometric eKYC

This can be found at Common Service Centres (CSCs) in the state seva kendras or in nominated help centres:

Step 1: You need to go to a CSC or an authorised centre with your Aadhaar.

Step 2: Offer fingerprint authentication under the Aadhaar authentication.

Step 3: Identification is verified, and eKYC status is updated in the background on the system.

Face-Authentication eKYC

Made to be used by mobile-savvy users and to decrease the reliance on physical centres:

Step 1: Aadhaar Face RD app and PM-Kisan mobile app should be downloaded from the App Store.

Step 2: Log in with the registered mobile number.

Step 3: Aadhaar face scan, when prompted, gets compared to the biometric in the Aadhaar database.

Step 4: The eKYC is updated with successful authentication.

Any pending eKYC completed early will cause the 20th instalment not to be delayed on account of verification gaps.

Also Read: Agriculture Budget 2025

Historical Context & Cumulative Disbursement

In 2019, the PM-Kisan movement began as a unique initiative in India to provide income support to farmers without restrictions. Before the 20th payment, the Government of India paid approximately ₹3.69 lakh crore in 19 instalments. The scheme's coverage expanded gradually, with the method being robust enough to link with millions of farm families and convert the process into digital verification, which was one way of successfully curtailing the chances of leakage.

Socio-Economic Impacts

The regular income flow from PM-Kisan in rural areas continually stabilises cash flows, especially during land preparation and planting, or when purchasing inputs for land preparation. The program enables farmers to avoid informal sources of credit, increasing food security in timely plantings, and gives an element of stability in rural demand by allowing farmers to mobilise demand in other markets. The honesty afforded through DBT and its digital verification has added comfort and trust in different aspects of government support directed at individuals, rather than through intermediaries, and the wide geographical dispersal helps alleviate the pressures of regionally based agrarian distress.