Bengaluru: Farmers receiving financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme have been advised to complete their annual e-KYC process at the earliest to avoid delays in receiving their next instalment.
The Director of Agriculture has urged eligible beneficiaries to ensure that their e-KYC details are updated as required under the scheme. Farmers who fail to complete the mandatory verification may face delays in receiving further financial assistance.
The advisory is particularly relevant for farmers who are already registered under PM-Kisan and continue to receive financial support from the Central government.
Rs 6,000 assistance every year
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, eligible farmer families are provided financial assistance of Rs 6,000 annually.
The amount is released in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each, with payments made at intervals of four months.
As per the Central government’s guidelines, small, marginal, medium and large farmer families who owned eligible agricultural land before February 1, 2019, are covered under the scheme, subject to the prescribed eligibility conditions.
The financial assistance is intended to supplement the income of farming families and support their agricultural and household requirements.
Annual biometric e-KYC mandatory
According to the Agriculture Department, eligible farmers are required to complete biometric e-KYC every year to continue receiving the benefit.
The verification process helps establish the identity of beneficiaries and ensures that financial assistance reaches eligible farmers.
Farmers who have already been receiving PM-Kisan payments have therefore been asked not to wait until the next instalment is due and instead complete the verification process at the earliest.
Officials have also stressed the importance of maintaining the required identification records under the government’s agricultural digital systems.
AgriStack and FRUITS identification required
To continue receiving PM-Kisan assistance, eligible farmers must have an identification number created under the Central government’s AgriStack initiative.
This identification number needs to correspond with the farmer’s identification number in the FRUITS software.
The integration of these records is intended to improve the identification and verification of farmers and strengthen the delivery of agricultural benefits.
Farmers who are unsure whether their details have been properly linked or updated can approach the designated service centres for assistance with the process.
e-KYC can be completed at CSCs
Farmers who receive PM-Kisan benefits can complete their biometric e-KYC by visiting the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or Grama One centre.
They are advised to carry their Aadhaar card and the mobile phone number linked to their Aadhaar while visiting the centre.
The biometric verification process is designed to be completed relatively quickly. Officials said the process can reportedly take around 10 minutes, after which the farmer receives a confirmation message.
Farmers are advised to verify that the process has been successfully completed rather than assuming that simply visiting a centre constitutes completion.
Face recognition option available
Farmers can also complete the verification process themselves using a mobile phone.
The Central government has made available the PMKISAN e-KYC through Face Recognition App, which enables beneficiaries to complete e-KYC using facial recognition technology.
This provides an alternative for farmers who may not be able to visit a CSC or Grama One centre.
Farmers choosing the mobile-based option should ensure that they use the official PM-Kisan application or designated government platform and follow the instructions provided for completing the verification.
Why farmers should complete the process early
The e-KYC requirement is an important step in ensuring continuity of PM-Kisan payments.
Delaying verification could create difficulties when the next instalment is processed. Farmers who depend on the assistance for agricultural expenses may therefore benefit from completing the process well in advance.
The Agriculture Department has specifically advised existing beneficiaries to complete e-KYC at the earliest and continue availing themselves of the scheme’s benefits.
The verification requirement also helps government agencies maintain updated beneficiary records and reduce the possibility of payments being made to ineligible or incorrectly identified beneficiaries.
Documents and details to keep ready
Farmers visiting a CSC or Grama One centre should keep their Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked mobile number available.
They should also ensure that their details in the relevant agricultural records are accurate and that the required AgriStack and FRUITS identification information is available.
If there is a mismatch between records, farmers may need to approach the concerned authorities to correct or update their details before the verification can be completed successfully.
Assistance available through local centres
For farmers who are unfamiliar with digital procedures, CSCs and Grama One centres can provide assistance with the e-KYC process.
The availability of both biometric and face-recognition options gives beneficiaries more than one way to complete the mandatory verification.
Farmers are encouraged to use the option that is most convenient for them and ensure that they receive confirmation after completing the process.
Conclusion
The Agriculture Department’s advisory is aimed at ensuring that eligible PM-Kisan beneficiaries do not face unnecessary delays in receiving their financial assistance.
Farmers who have not yet completed their annual biometric e-KYC should do so at the earliest through a CSC or Grama One centre, carrying their Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked mobile number. They can also use the PMKISAN e-KYC Face Recognition App to complete the process through their mobile phone.
With the next instalment dependent on compliance with the scheme’s verification requirements, beneficiaries are advised to complete e-KYC promptly and ensure that their AgriStack and FRUITS identification details are correctly linked.