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The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the () scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31, committing ₹3.15 lakh crore to the program. This Central Sector Scheme, launched in 2019, provides income support of ₹6,000 annually to eligible farmer families to enhance their agricultural productivity and financial stability.
The continuation of PM-KISAN is a significant move in India's agricultural economics, transitioning focus from price interventions (like Minimum Support Price or MSP) to direct income support. The scheme injects capital directly into the rural economy via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), allowing farmers autonomy in utilizing the funds for inputs like seeds and fertilizers or for consumption. This liquidity injection is crucial for reducing dependency on informal credit networks (moneylenders) which often trap farmers in debt cycles. For UPSC, analyze the macroeconomic impact: does ₹6,000/year sufficiently offset rising input costs and inflationary pressures in agriculture? Contrast income support models (like PM-KISAN) with price guarantee models (MSP legalization demands), evaluating their respective impacts on the fiscal deficit and market distortions.
The administration of PM-KISAN highlights the maturation of India's digital public infrastructure and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) architecture. Operating entirely on the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile), the scheme minimizes leakage and eliminates intermediaries, ensuring "timely and transparent" fund delivery. However, governance challenges persist, primarily concerning beneficiary identification. Since land records are a State subject, the onus of identifying eligible farmers lies with State Governments. For UPSC Mains, discuss the issues of exclusion errors (tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and those without updated land titles are excluded) and inclusion errors (ineligible beneficiaries receiving funds). The integration of databases like Aadhaar and land registries is a crucial governance reform area to optimize targeting.
The data revealing that nearly 25% of PM-KISAN beneficiaries are women, receiving over ₹1.06 lakh crore, points toward a gradual but crucial feminization of agriculture. Historically, women's contribution to agriculture has been unrecognized due to a lack of land ownership rights. The fact that female farmers are receiving direct income support signifies improved access to resources and enhanced financial autonomy. For UPSC, link this to the broader theme of gender empowerment and rural development. Analyze how targeted financial assistance to women impacts household expenditure patterns (e.g., increased spending on nutrition and education). Furthermore, evaluate if PM-KISAN alone is sufficient to address the structural issues facing women in agriculture, such as lack of credit access and extension services tailored to female farmers.