What is the common examiner trap about Economy in UPSC exams?

They may swap 'Central Sector Scheme' with 'Centrally Sponsored Scheme' or confuse the annual amount (₹6000) with the installment amount (₹2000). Another trap is stating the launch year as 2018 (when it was announced) versus 2019 (when it officially became operational).

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Economy for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: Total transfer of over ₹4.27 lakh crore to over 9.35 crore farmers. 2. Target this Nodal Body: The scheme is implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 3. Target this Legal Point: It is a Central Sector Scheme (100% central funding), not a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

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PM Kisan Samman Nidhi's 22nd Installment of ₹2000 Released, Over ₹4.27 Lakh Cr Transferred to 9.35 Cr Farmers Since 2018

Q: Under which ministry is the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme implemented?

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, The PM-KISAN scheme is implemented by the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This ministry is responsible for policies and programs related to farmers' income support and agricultural development.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme: 1. It provides an annual financial benefit of ₹6000 to eligible landholding farmer families. 2. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with cost-sharing between the Centre and States. 3. The funds are transferred directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the scheme provides ₹6000 per year in three installments. Statement 2 is incorrect because PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government, not a cost-shared Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions DBT for direct transfer to bank accounts.

Q: According to the article, what is the total cumulative amount transferred to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme since its inception?

Over ₹4.27 lakh crore, The article explicitly states that the scheme has transferred over ₹4.27 lakh crore to more than 9.35 crore farmers since its inception. The other options are plausible but incorrect distractors.

Q: What is the primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme as mentioned in the article?

To offer essential income support for covering agricultural input expenses, The article states the scheme aims 'to provide essential income support to landholding farmer families' and 'to help small and marginal farmers cover expenses related to agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, and equipment.' The other options describe objectives of different agricultural schemes.

Economy Agriculture PolitySUPPORT

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link

13 Mar 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:₹6000 annual support₹2000 per installmentOver ₹4.27 lakh crore total transferOver 9.35 crore beneficiariesMarch 13, 2026

Bodies:Government of India

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The 22nd installment of PM-KISAN, amounting to ₹2000 per beneficiary, was released on March 13, 2026.

2.PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme providing ₹6000 annual income support, disbursed in three equal installments via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

3.Since its 2018 launch, the scheme has transferred over ₹4.27 lakh crore to more than 9.35 crore farmers, making it a key case study for welfare economics and DBT efficiency.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The government has released the 22nd installment of the flagship PM-KISAN scheme, providing ₹2000 direct income support to landholding farmers. This is a high-priority welfare scheme for exam preparation, testing knowledge on DBT, agricultural subsidies, and government initiatives for farmer welfare.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Annual Support per Farmer₹6000

Per Installment Amount₹2000

Total Transfer Since InceptionOver ₹4.27 lakh crore

Total BeneficiariesOver 9.35 crore farmers

22nd Installment DateMarch 13, 2026

1-Minute Revision

›Annual Support per Farmer: ₹6000
›Per Installment Amount: ₹2000
›Target this Data: Total transfer of over ₹4.27 lakh crore to over 9.35 crore farmers.
›Target this Nodal Body: The scheme is implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
›Target this Legal Point: It is a Central Sector Scheme (100% central funding), not a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

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News Snapshot

💰

Direct Income Support

The 22nd installment of ₹2000 under PM-KISAN was released, marking continued direct cash transfer to farmers.

🌾

Central Sector Scheme

PM-KISAN is a 100% centrally funded scheme launched in 2019 to provide essential income support to landholding farmer families.

📱

Mandatory e-KYC & DBT

The scheme mandates e-KYC and Aadhaar-seeding for transparency, with funds transferred directly to bank accounts via DBT.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

PM-KISAN was launched in 2019 as a central sector scheme to address agrarian distress by providing direct income support. It was introduced as a structural intervention to supplement farmer income for purchasing agricultural inputs, moving away from price support mechanisms like MSP. The scheme's design emphasizes transparency through DBT and aims to be one of the world's largest income-support initiatives.

Core Analysis & Implications

The release of the 22nd installment underscores the scheme's institutionalization as a permanent fiscal tool for farmer welfare. With over ₹4.27 lakh crore transferred to 9.35 crore beneficiaries, it demonstrates significant scale and fiscal commitment. The mandatory e-KYC and Aadhaar-seeding highlight the government's push for digitization and reducing leakages. However, the scheme's effectiveness in truly alleviating farmer distress remains a topic for analytical evaluation in mains answers, touching on issues of adequacy, coverage of landless laborers, and its impact on agricultural productivity.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

The continuity of installments signals political and policy commitment. Future debates may focus on indexing the support amount to inflation, expanding the beneficiary base, or integrating it with other schemes like PMFBY. Examiners may ask about its sustainability as a fiscal burden versus its social benefit, making it a recurring theme in Economy and Governance sections.

Key Facts at a Glance

Annual Support per Farmer₹6000

Per Installment Amount₹2000

Total Transfer Since InceptionOver ₹4.27 lakh crore

Total BeneficiariesOver 9.35 crore farmers

22nd Installment DateMarch 13, 2026

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Under which ministry is the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme implemented?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme:

1. It provides an annual financial benefit of ₹6000 to eligible landholding farmer families.

2. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with cost-sharing between the Centre and States.

3. The funds are transferred directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, Banking, SSC

According to the article, what is the total cumulative amount transferred to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme since its inception?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC, Banking

What is the primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme as mentioned in the article?

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PM Kisan Samman Nidhi's 22nd Installment of ₹2000 Released, Over ₹4.27 Lakh Cr Transferred to 9.35 Cr Farmers Since 2018

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Direct Income Support

Central Sector Scheme

Mandatory e-KYC & DBT

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance