New Delhi, 20 June (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 23rd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme today, Friday, transferring more than ₹18,800 crore directly into the bank accounts of nearly 9.5 crore farmers across India through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to release the funds during a programme in Tarakeswar, located in West Bengal's Hooghly district. The event is being observed as PM Kisan Utsav Diwas and highlights the Centre's continued focus on supporting farmers through direct financial assistance.

Under the PM-Kisan scheme, eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 annually in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each. The financial assistance is intended to help farmers meet agricultural expenses, including the purchase of seeds, fertilisers and other essential inputs.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, more than ₹4.28 lakh crore has already been transferred to beneficiaries through the previous 22 installments since the scheme was launched in 2019.

West Bengal is expected to receive significant benefits under the latest installment, with more than 44 lakh farmers set to receive around ₹885 crore. Officials said many eligible farmers in the state were previously unable to receive assistance because of pending verification and beneficiary data issues. Following the completion of the verification process, the Centre said the benefits will now reach eligible farmers directly.

Madhya Pradesh will also receive a major share of the assistance, with nearly 81.7 lakh farmers expected to receive over ₹1,634 crore under the latest installment.

The release of funds comes ahead of the Kharif sowing season, when farmers require working capital to purchase seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs. The government believes timely financial support will help improve farm preparedness and ease seasonal expenses.

The Agriculture Ministry has also said it is closely monitoring the southwest monsoon and preparing contingency plans for districts that could be affected by possible weather-related challenges. Measures include ensuring seed availability, promoting suitable crop alternatives and strengthening district-level agricultural planning.

The PM-Kisan scheme remains one of the world's largest direct income support programmes for farmers and continues to be a key pillar of the government's efforts to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve agricultural welfare.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar