Relaxation in Aadhaar related Conditions for 2nd Instalment under PM - KISAN scheme Approved

Relaxation in the Aadhaar related conditions for the release of Second Instalment of income support to all Small and Marginal land-holder farmers’ families with cultivable land-holding up to 2 hectares across the country under PM - KISAN scheme has been approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

Income support to all Small and Marginal landholder farmers' families with cultivable land holding upto 2 hectares across the country, by paying them Rs.6000/- per year, subject to certain exclusions is the basic feature of the scheme. The Scheme has been launched by the Prime Minister on the 24th February, 2019. The amount will be released in three instalments of Rs. 2000/- each over the year and will be credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer mode. A total amount of more than Rs.2000 crores has already been released to more than one crore farmers' families across the country in the first lot of 1st instalment. Further releases for the 1st instalment to the remaining beneficiaries are being made. 

It has been declared that the 2nd instalment under the scheme would be admissible after 1st of April, 2019. In this connection, it is stated that the Union Cabinet, while approving the scheme on 1 February made Aadhaar seeding of the beneficiaries' data compulsory for release of 2nd instalment onwards. However, it would be difficult to get 100% Aadhaar seeding for release of funds for 2nd instalment, as efficient seeding of beneficiaries' details with Aadhaar requires bio-metric authentication. Demographic seeding will result in large scale rejection as the spellings of names have to be exactly the same. Non-seeding of beneficiaries' details with Aadhaar number will delay the release of 2nd instalment as it is due on 1st April, 2019 and will cause discontent among the farmers. Therefore, this condition has been relaxed. The condition will remain applicable for release of 3rd instalment onwards. However, Aadhaar number shall be compulsory for release of 2nd instalment. The validation of data by government will take place in order to ensure the fair accomplishment of the scheme.