New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 21st installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on November 19, benefiting over 11 crore farmer families across the country. With this disbursement, the total direct transfer under the flagship initiative will surpass 3.7 lakh crore rupees.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, eligible farmer families receive financial assistance of 6,000 rupees annually in three equal installments. The program has become one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer (DBT) initiatives, with a growing share of women beneficiaries—now accounting for more than 25 per cent of its total coverage.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said continued digital reforms have strengthened the transparency and efficiency of the scheme. Aadhaar-based e-KYC via one-time password (OTP), biometric, or face authentication has expanded secure access for beneficiaries, while enhancements to the PM-KISAN Mobile App and online portal have simplified verification and payment tracking.

Farmers can now use features such as “Know Your Status” to receive real-time updates on application progress and Aadhaar-linked banking services through India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) for doorstep transactions.

As part of its digital outreach, the ministry has also introduced a multilingual AI-powered chatbot, Kisan-eMitra, which offers round-the-clock assistance in 11 regional languages. The chatbot helps farmers check payment details, update information, and resolve queries seamlessly.

Furthermore, a newly launched Farmer Registry aims to unify farmer data across all welfare programs, reducing repetitive documentation and ensuring timely and accurate delivery of benefits to every eligible recipient.

The government said the upcoming installment is aimed at bolstering rural income security and empowering India’s agricultural community through technology-driven governance.