How to Apply for PM-KISAN Benefits

Applying for PM-KISAN is a one-time process that can be done either online by the farmer or through local authorities. Below is a step-by-step guide to the application process, including eligibility checks, required documents, and registration steps.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Before applying, the farmer should self-confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria described above. Essentially, you should be a landholding farmer (your name or your family’s name is on land records for cultivable land) and none of your family members should fall under the excluded categories (no one in your immediate family is a taxpayer, big pensioner, etc.).

If you are unsure, you can consult the local agriculture officer or refer to the official scheme guidelines. Only eligible farmers will be approved, so it’s important to verify this to avoid rejection.

Step 2: Prepare Required Documents

Gather the necessary documents and details needed for the application. The key documents/information typically required are:

Aadhaar Card – Aadhaar is mandatory for PM-KISAN registration. The Aadhaar number will be used for identity verification (eKYC) and must be linked to your bank account.

Land ownership document(s) – such as land records or Khatauni/Khasra papers, or the land passbook issued by the revenue department. These prove that you own agricultural land and will be used to verify the details (survey number, area, etc.). You may need to provide the Record of Rights (RoR) or landholding account number as per your state’s system.

Bank account details – a Savings Bank Account in your name. You should have the bank account number and IFSC code ready (typically these are on your bank passbook or statement). This is where the money will be deposited. It’s important that the bank account is linked to your Aadhaar for seamless transfer.

Mobile number – Your mobile number is needed for registration (for OTP verification during eKYC and for future communications). Ideally, this should be the number linked with your Aadhaar.

Optional: In case you apply through a Common Service Centre (CSC) or offline, you may be asked for copies of the above documents (photocopy of Aadhaar, etc.) and possibly a passport-sized photograph for the form.

However, for online self-registration, no physical documents are uploaded – you only need to enter the information as per your documents. The above list covers the indicative documents required.

Step 3: Register Online or via Authorized Centers

Farmers have multiple channels to register for PM-KISAN:

Online Self-Registration: You can self-register on the official PM-KISAN portal which has a Farmer’s Corner for enrollment. There is also a PM-KISAN Mobile App (launched in February 2020) that you can use for registration and status tracking.

On the portal homepage, look for the “New Farmer Registration” link under Farmers Corner. Clicking this will open the registration form. You will be prompted to enter your Aadhaar number, select your state, and then fill in personal details (name, age, category etc. as per Aadhaar), bank account details, and land details (survey number, land size etc. as per your land record). Submit the form online once completed. Upon successful submission, you should note the registration/reference number generated for your application. This number can be used to check your status later.

Common Service Centres (CSCs): If you are not comfortable with online forms, you can visit your nearest CSC or Jan Seva Kendra. CSCs are facilities set up to assist citizens in applying for government schemes. The Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) at the CSC will fill the PM-KISAN registration form online on your behalf. You should carry your Aadhaar, bank passbook, and land details to the CSC. They may charge a nominal service fee. After processing, the VLE will give you an acknowledgment slip.

Offline through Agriculture Department: In some cases, local agriculture officers, revenue officers (Patwari/Tehsildar), or Gram Panchayat officials are designated to collect PM-KISAN applications. You can inquire with the Gram Panchayat office or Block/District Agriculture Office. They might have physical forms that you fill out and submit with copies of documents. These forms are then digitized and uploaded to the portal by the officials. (This method was more prevalent during the initial phase of the scheme; currently, emphasis is on self-registration or CSC.)

Regardless of method, all registrations end up in the central PM-KISAN online system for further processing. For most farmers, using the online portal is convenient and instantaneous if you have basic digital literacy.

The portal is available in multiple languages and has an easy interface. States have also conducted special registration drives (camps) to enroll farmers, where laptops/phones were used on the spot to register those who hadn’t applied yet.

Step 4: Complete eKYC (Aadhaar Verification)

The Government has made eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) mandatory for all PM-KISAN beneficiaries to authenticate their identity. eKYC is essentially an Aadhaar-based verification. After submitting your registration, you should complete eKYC to avoid any interruption in benefits:

OTP Based eKYC: On the PM-KISAN portal (Farmers Corner), there is an option for “eKYC”. You can select this, enter your Aadhaar number, and then an OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with that Aadhaar. Enter the OTP to complete the eKYC process online. This method is quick if your mobile is linked with Aadhaar.

Biometric eKYC: If the OTP method fails or you don’t have a mobile linked to Aadhaar, you can visit a CSC or the agriculture department office to do a biometric eKYC. The operator will use a fingerprint or iris scanner to authenticate your Aadhaar on the PM-KISAN portal. This is an assisted process.

As of 2022, eKYC is compulsory – registrations without Aadhaar authentication are not accepted, and even existing beneficiaries had to complete eKYC to continue receiving installments. Make sure to get this done. The portal will show your eKYC status (you can check “Aadhaar Verification Status” in the Farmer’s Corner). Once eKYC is successful, your application is ready for approval.

Step 5: Verification by Authorities

After you have registered and completed eKYC, your application goes into the verification stage. Local authorities (at the district/block level) will verify the details you provided:

Land record verification: The agriculture or revenue officer will confirm that the land details match official records and that you indeed are a cultivator of that land. They may check the land ownership database or physically verify if required. In some states, this is done digitally if land records are linked; in others, the officer signs off after manual checking.

Eligibility verification: They will ensure you are not in any exclusion category. Often this relies on self-declaration (the form requires you to declare that you’re eligible). However, some checks (like government employees or pensioners) can be cross-verified through databases. The system itself flags income tax payees and certain pensioners automatically using Aadhaar/PAN linkage. If any discrepancy is found (say the land is not in your name, or you were found ineligible), the application could be rejected at this stage. The data would be sent back for correction if possible.

If everything is in order, the state/district nodal officer approves the beneficiary in the system. Approved beneficiary details (Name, Aadhaar, bank account) then move into the beneficiary list for payment.

Timeline: The time from registration to approval can vary. In well-integrated systems, this might be as short as a couple of weeks. In other cases, it might take a month or two, especially if there is a backlog or if corrections are needed. States often publish village-wise PM-KISAN beneficiary lists after approvals, which you can check to see if your name is included.

Step 6: Receive Benefits and Monitor Status

Once approved, you will start receiving the ₹2,000 installments in your bank account every four months as per the cycle. The funds are automatically transferred – you do not need to apply again for each installment. You will continue to receive payments as long as you remain eligible (i.e., you still own the land and no exclusion criteria apply later) and the scheme is ongoing.

To keep track of your PM-KISAN status or in case of any issues, you can:

Use the “Beneficiary Status” feature on the portal or mobile app. By entering your Aadhaar or mobile number or registration number, you can see whether your application is approved, and the payment details of installments (dates and amounts). This is useful to confirm if a payment has been credited or if it’s pending.

Approach your bank and update your passbook or use internet banking to verify the credit of ₹2,000 from “PM-KISAN” (often the narration in bank statements mentions PM Kisan or a PFMS credit code). Typically, installments are labeled clearly.

Ensure that your bank account remains active and Aadhaar-linked. If you ever need to change the bank account for receiving the money, the portal has an option to update/edit details, or you can request through the agriculture department.

If installments are missing or you face any issues, use the grievance redressal avenues described in the next section. Common issues might include: name mismatches (e.g., name on Aadhaar vs bank), land record disputes, or being wrongly marked ineligible. These can be resolved by contacting officials or through the portal’s helpdesk.

The entire process from registration to disbursal is free of cost (except minimal CSC service charges if applicable). Farmers are advised to beware of frauds – no middleman or agent is required to get the PM-KISAN scheme money. If you meet the criteria and have applied correctly, the money will reach your account.