Crores of farmers across India are eagerly awaiting the 24th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, with the Rs 2,000 payment expected in October 2026. One report has pointed to October 20 as a possible date for the credit, though the government is yet to make an official announcement.
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, eligible land-holding farmer families receive Rs 6,000 a year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each, transferred directly into their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
e-KYC is now mandatory
The government has made e-KYC compulsory for all PM-Kisan beneficiaries. Farmers who have not completed their e-KYC risk missing out on the 24th instalment entirely. The e-KYC can be completed through OTP-based authentication on the PM-Kisan portal, at Common Service Centres (CSCs), or via face authentication on the mobile app.
The agriculture ministry has repeatedly extended e-KYC deadlines in the past, but officials have been clear that the requirement is now non-negotiable. Farmers who completed e-KYC for earlier instalments do not need to repeat the process unless their personal details have changed.
Beneficiaries should also ensure their bank accounts are seeded with Aadhaar and enabled for DBT payments. Mismatches in names, bank details or land records are among the most common reasons for payments getting stuck.
How to check your PM-Kisan beneficiary status
Farmers can check whether their name figures in the beneficiary list by visiting the official PM-Kisan portal and using the ‘Beneficiary Status’ option. Entering the Aadhaar number or registered mobile number will show the status of past instalments and whether the e-KYC is complete.
Those facing issues can approach their nearest CSC or the agriculture department office for assistance in updating records.
What to do if your payment is stuck
If the beneficiary status shows ‘payment pending’ or ‘rejected’, the first step is to verify that the bank account is active and Aadhaar-seeded. Land record mismatches — a frequent issue in rural areas — need to be corrected at the local revenue office. In most cases, once the records are updated, the pending instalment is released in the next payment cycle.
Scheme extended till 2031 with Rs 3.15 lakh crore outlay
In a significant long-term commitment, the Union Cabinet has extended the PM-Kisan scheme till 2031 with a total outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore. The extension underlines the scheme’s place as the government’s flagship income support measure for the farming community.
With the 24th instalment round the corner, farmers are advised to complete their e-KYC at the earliest and keep an eye out for the official announcement on the payment date.
