PM Modi to release Rs 20,500 crore under 20th PM-KISAN scheme today; Odisha farmers to benefit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today release the 20th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Varanasi, disbursing Rs 20,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 9.7 crore farmers across the country.

Under this instalment, each eligible farmer will receive Rs 2,000, continuing the government’s financial support through three equal annual payments totalling Rs 6,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

With this disbursal, the total funds transferred under the scheme will rise to Rs 3.69 lakh crore over 20 instalments.

Odisha Among States Set to Receive Funds

Odisha’s farmers are among the over 9.7 crore beneficiaries nationwide who will receive funds today. State-level agriculture departments have confirmed that the payment infrastructure is in place and Aadhaar-seeded accounts are ready to receive the assistance.

The Centre expects this infusion to help farmers procure essential inputs for the ongoing Kharif season and strengthen their financial resilience. Notably, the PM-KISAN scheme, launched in February 2019, is a central sector initiative aimed at supplementing the financial needs of land-holding small and marginal farmers (SMFs).

Recent Expansions and Inclusion Drives

The PM-KISAN scheme has seen expanded reach following recent saturation drives. As part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra launched in November 2023, over 1 crore new farmers were brought into the fold, reported The Press Information Bureau of India.

Following the formation of the new government in June 2024, an additional 25 lakh farmers were added within the first 100 days. These expansions led to 9.59 crore beneficiaries receiving the 18th instalment.

In the previous phase, the Prime Minister had released the 19th instalment from Bhagalpur, Bihar, on February 24, 2025. That release had seen Rs 22,000 crore disbursed to over 9.8 crore farmers.