PM-KISAN, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, provides direct income support of ₹6,000 per year to eligible farmer families across India, disbursed in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each. Currently benefiting over 9.34 crore farmers, it operates through Direct Benefit Transfer. ICAR-CIFRI observed PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas alongside Khet Jagrukta Diwas, highlighting the scheme's role in strengthening rural economies and promoting awareness among farming communities about government welfare outreach.

PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) was launched in February 2019 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. It is a Central Sector Scheme — meaning it is fully funded by the Government of India, unlike Centrally Sponsored Schemes where states share costs. This distinction is frequently tested.

The scheme provides ₹6,000 per year in three instalments of ₹2,000 each, credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmer families through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. This eliminates middlemen and reduces leakage, making it a model for last-mile financial delivery.

Eligibility covers all landholding farmer families with cultivable land, subject to exclusion criteria: income taxpayers, institutional landholders, constitutional post-holders, and serving/retired government employees above a threshold are excluded. The scheme uses the Aadhaar-seeded land records database for identification.

For NABARD aspirants, the scheme connects to rural credit: the cash transfer supplements farm income, reducing distress borrowing and improving loan repayment capacity. For UPSC aspirants, PM-KISAN exemplifies DBT-based welfare architecture under the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile). The current beneficiary count of 9.34 crore is a precision figure the examiner will test. PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas is observed on February 24, marking the scheme's anniversary.