Page 18 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026
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Economic Empowerment
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
More Than lakh crore has been
4.09 disbursed to farmers
through DBT in 21
Agriculture and Farmers’ installments.
Welfare Budget n More than 9.34 crore beneficiaries have received
Increased by 480% benefits under the PM Kisan scheme, and their
21,933.50 1,27,290.16 Figures in crore rupees n PM Kisan is an income support scheme for farmers
e-KYC has also been completed. E-KYC is yet to
be completed for 42.85 lakh farmers in the country.
with cultivable land. Under this scheme, ₹6,000 is
2013-14 2025-26 provided annually in three equal installments.
Research findings from the International Food
PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana Policy Research Institute indicate that PM
n The Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, Kisan has reduced farmers’ credit constraints
with an outlay of ₹24,000 crore, was launched by
PM Modi on October 11, 2025. and improved their risk-taking capacity. Besides
n 100 districts were selected for the scheme based agricultural needs, this amount has also been
on three parameters: the yield per farm; the used to meet other expenses such as education,
frequency of cultivation and third, the ease of medical expenses, and marriages.
access to loans.
n The scheme has been launched in aspirational districts Over 85 percent of beneficiary farmers, in a
by coordinating 36 sub-schemes of 11 ministries. NITI Aayog study, reported that PM Kisan
n Objective: To boost farm productivity, diversify has led to an increase in agricultural income and
crops, promote sustainable practices, expand
post-harvest storage, improve irrigation, and a reduction in dependence on informal credit
enhance access to short- and long-term credit during crop failures or medical emergencies.
across 100 selected districts.
with less water? How can the land be protected entirely on agriculture or on related sectors. Thus,
from harmful chemicals? How can farming be agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy,
modernized? How can science and technology and nearly 44 percent of the country’s workforce
reach the fields? The central government has is employed in farming and related businesses.
worked on many such issues over the past 11 Agriculture has always been a crucial part of our
years so that Indian agriculture can become a development journey. It is essential that agriculture
major pillar of a developed India. receives government support as times change, but
unfortunately, immediately after independence, the
A NEW ERA OF FARMER EMPOWERMENT agricultural sector did not receive the attention it
Approximately 68 percent of India’s population lives deserved. There was a lack of a clear vision for agri-
in rural areas, and their livelihoods depend either culture. Different government departments related
16 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 1-15, 2026
