Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday released the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), putting more than Rs 18,690 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.34 crore farmer families across the country. The money was released from Banaskantha in Gujarat, where the Prime Minister was on a two-day visit ahead of National Unity Day celebrations at Ekta Nagar.
Under PM-KISAN, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 a year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each, paid straight into their accounts through direct benefit transfer. With the latest release, the scheme has now transferred more than Rs 4.47 lakh crore to farmers since it began, making it one of the largest direct income support programmes for agriculture anywhere in the world.
The timing matters. Farmers are in the middle of the rabi season, when sowing of wheat, mustard and pulses is under way, and input costs have stayed high through a year of expensive crude oil and global uncertainty. For small and marginal farmers, who form the bulk of PM-KISAN beneficiaries, a Rs 2,000 instalment often goes straight into seeds, fertiliser and diesel.
What was announced in Banaskantha
Alongside the instalment, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stones for, inaugurated and dedicated development projects worth more than Rs 14,000 crore in Banaskantha district, ranging from farm infrastructure to dairy and clean energy.
Among them was the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi, dedicated to the nation during the visit. The centre is meant to improve cattle breeding and raise the productivity of indigenous breeds, a priority in a district where dairying is a second income for thousands of families. Two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy, at Tharad and Radhanpur, were also part of the programme. Together they will process 175 metric tonnes of cattle dung a day, turning farm waste into fuel and extra income for dairy farmers.
The visit also marked the start of on-ground work under 12 approved horticulture clusters, and 521 units built with the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund were inaugurated to improve storage, processing and marketing of high-value crops.
A message on fertiliser supplies
Addressing farmers in Banaskantha, the Prime Minister pushed back firmly against talk of fertiliser and cooking gas shortages. He said the government had shielded farmers from rising international fertiliser prices even as global costs climbed, and accused political opponents of spreading rumours at a sensitive moment for the farm sector. The government has repeatedly said subsidy support will continue so that farmers do not bear the full brunt of global price swings.
Two train services were also flagged off during the Banaskantha programme. After the district engagements, the Prime Minister travelled to Ekta Nagar in Narmada district, where he inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 ahead of National Unity Day.
Why the scheme still matters
PM-KISAN was launched as income support, not as a loan waiver or a subsidy, and that distinction shapes how it is used. Because the money lands directly in accounts, without middlemen, it reaches smallholders who often miss out on other schemes. Studies of earlier instalments have found the money is typically spent on farm inputs, school fees and household needs.
The scale is the story in itself. More than 9.34 crore families receiving the same instalment on the same day is a logistical exercise few countries attempt, and the direct transfer design is why the scheme has avoided the leakages that plagued older farm support programmes. Critics argue that Rs 6,000 a year is modest against rising costs, and that debate will continue.
For the government, the release also fits a wider rural push: farm infrastructure funding, horticulture clusters, dairy-linked clean energy and cattle breeding, all aimed at raising incomes from farming and allied work rather than only from crop prices.
What happens next
- Farmers can check the instalment status on the PM-KISAN portal and through the scheme’s mobile app using their registered mobile number or Aadhaar-linked details.
- Beneficiaries who have not completed their e-KYC or whose bank details are not seeded with Aadhaar should update them to avoid delays in future instalments.
- The next instalment will follow the usual four-month cycle, with the government expected to announce its date closer to the time.
- On Saturday, the Prime Minister will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity and take part in National Unity Day events marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The 24th instalment is, in the end, a reminder of how farm support now works in India: money first, straight to the account, with the ceremony and the projects wrapped around it.
FAQs
How much money was released in the 24th PM-KISAN instalment?
More than Rs 18,690 crore was transferred to over 9.34 crore farmer families across India.
How much does each farmer get under PM-KISAN?
Eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 a year, paid in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
Where was the 24th instalment released?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released it in Banaskantha district of Gujarat on October 30, during a two-day visit to the state.
How can farmers check their instalment status?
Through the PM-KISAN portal or mobile app, using the registered mobile number or Aadhaar-linked details. Completing e-KYC is required to keep receiving instalments.
What is the total amount transferred under PM-KISAN so far?
The first 23 instalments together moved more than Rs 4.47 lakh crore to eligible farmers through direct benefit transfer.
