Bhubaneswar, Aug 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 20th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi.

This installment, amounting to ₹2,000 per eligible farmer, was transferred directly into the bank accounts of over 9.7 crore farmers across India via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), totaling ₹20,500 crore.

The PM-KISAN scheme, launched in 2019, provides ₹6,000 annually to small and marginal farmers in three equal installments. It aims to support farmers in procuring essential agricultural inputs and reduce dependence on informal credit sources.

In Odisha, more than 35 lakh farmers received the benefit this time. Notably, over 5 lakh farmers who were previously excluded due to administrative delays have now been added to the scheme following a special drive by the state government.

Earlier, Odisha’s farmers faced hurdles in accessing PM-KISAN funds due to incomplete e-KYC and land verification. However, recent efforts have ensured wider inclusion, allowing thousands more to benefit from the scheme.

PM Modi has always emphasized the government’s commitment to farmer welfare and rural prosperity. He is also scheduled to inaugurate several development projects across sectors like health, education, and infrastructure.

With this release, the total disbursal under PM-KISAN would cross ₹3.69 lakh crore since its inception, making it one of the largest DBT schemes globally.

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