Page 6 - NIS English 1-15 April, 2026

NEWS BRIEFS

PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi

22nd Installment Released: ₹4.27 Lakh Crore
Transferred to Farmers' Accounts Over 7 Years

For the past 11 years, under the leadership of PM Modi, the Central Government has been working
continuously to provide a robust safety cycle for the nation's farmers. Efforts are underway to ensure
that farming and agricultural activities remain unaffected—even amidst international crises—through
measures such as MSP, affordable credit, and crop insurance. Over the last 10 years, farmers have
received more than ₹20 lakh crore in the form of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Continuing this
series of initiatives aimed at empowering farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on March 13,
directly transferred an amount exceeding ₹18,640 crore into the accounts of 9.32 crore farmers as
the 22nd installment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi. The beneficiaries of this 22nd installment
include 2.15 crore women farmers. Under the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi—which has emerged as the
world's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme—a total amount exceeding ₹4.27 lakh crore has
already been transferred to farmers. Under this scheme, every eligible farming family receives financial
assistance of ₹6,000 per year, disbursed in three equal installments. PM Modi stated, "Today, the
Samman Nidhi scheme has become a vehicle for social security for the country's small farmers."

Unveiling of the Census-2027 Noida International Airport
Mascots: ‘Pragati’ (Female) Receives License
and ‘Vikas’ (Male) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, has granted an airport license to Yamuna International
Amit Shah, launched four digital tools and unveiled Airport Private Limited for the Noida International
the mascots for the World’s Largest Census-2027, Airport, located in Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar,
which is scheduled to be conducted in two phases. Uttar Pradesh. This airport has been authorized for
The mascots—‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’—have been 24-hour, all-weather operations under the ‘public use’
introduced as friendly and approachable symbols. category. This international airport is being developed
Furthermore, these mascots serve as emblems under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Noida
of the equal participation of men and women in International Airport is being developed as a multi-
fulfilling the national resolve to transform India into a modal cargo hub across four phases. In the first phase,
developed nation by the year 2047. For the first time, one runway and one terminal have been constructed.
the census will be conducted digitally. Additionally, In this phase, the airport will have an annual capacity
for the first time, an option for ‘Self-Enumeration’ to handle approximately 12 million passengers. Once
is also being provided. In the first phase of the all phases are completed, the airport will be capable of
census, the House-listing and Housing Census will handling approximately 70 million passengers annually.
be conducted between April 1, 2026, and September Consequently, it will emerge as a major aviation hub for
30, 2026; the second phase—the Population the National Capital Region and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Enumeration—will be
carried out across India
in February 2027.