The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under this scheme, the financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments every four months is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of the middlemen. Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 2.80 lakh Cr to more than 11 Cr farmers. 

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a robust grievance redressal system is in place. The farmers can lodge their grievances on the PM-KISAN portal and 24×7 IVRS facility for effective and timely resolution. Further, the farmers also have the facility to register their grievances, if any through Public Grievances portal. In addition to the above, the Government of India has developed Kisan e-Mitra (AI Chatbot) – Farmers’ digital assistance to address their queries in their own languages, thereby empowering the farmers through technological interventions. The Kisan e-Mitra is removing the existing technological and language barriers of the farmers.

The Kisan-eMitra, AI Chatbot is initially available in 5 languages i.e. English, Hindi, Odiya, Tamil and Bangla.

The Government of India has developed the PM-KISAN mobile app with the feature of face authentication-based e-KYC. This app is first mobile app which uses face authentication-based e-KYC feature in any benefit scheme of the Government. This Mobile App is very easy to use and is easily available for download on Google Playstore. It empowers the farmers to complete their eKYC sitting at home even in remote areas of the country without any OTP or fingerprint, just by scanning their face. This removes the need for farmers to visit CSC for biometric based eKYC or mandatory requirement of having mobile linked in their Aadhaar.  Once the farmer downloads the mobile app, he/she can do his/her eKYC. They can also assist 100 other farmers in their neighborhood to complete e-KYC at their doorstep. In addition to this, the Government of India, has also made provisions in the application which allows any State/UT Government officials registered to do e-KYC of up to 500 farmers.

Since the launch of the application, about 20 lakh farmer have successfully completed their e-KYC.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.