Government schemes for farmers in India cover four basic needs: cash income support, cheap crop loans, insurance against crop loss, and help with inputs such as soil testing, solar pumps and equipment. The central schemes below apply in every state; your state adds its own top-ups and subsidies on its agriculture department portal.
Most farmer schemes need three things in order: land records in your name (or proof of tenancy where the scheme allows it), an Aadhaar-linked bank account, and registration on the scheme portal or at a Common Service Centre. If one of these is missing, fix it first, because it is the most common reason for a rejected application. For other benefit programmes, see the full schemes section .
Central government schemes for farmers: quick table
| Scheme | What you get | Who is eligible | Apply at |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM-KISAN | Rs 6,000 a year in three instalments of Rs 2,000 | Land-holding farmer families, subject to exclusions | pmkisan.gov.in or CSC |
| Kisan Credit Card (KCC) | Short-term crop loan at a concessional interest rate | Farmers, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, SHGs; also animal husbandry and fisheries | Bank, RRB or cooperative bank |
| PMFBY | Insurance for notified crops against yield loss and specified risks | All farmers growing notified crops in notified areas | Bank, CSC, insurance company or pmfby.gov.in |
| PM-KUSUM | Subsidy on solar pumps and solarising grid pumps | Individual farmers, groups, FPOs, panchayats | State nodal agency via pmkusum.mnre.gov.in |
| Soil Health Card | Free soil test with crop-wise fertiliser advice | All farmers | Agriculture department or soilhealth.dac.gov.in |
| PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana | Pension of Rs 3,000 a month from age 60 | Small and marginal farmers aged 18 to 40 | CSC or maandhan.in |
PM-KISAN income support
PM-KISAN transfers Rs 6,000 a year to eligible farmer families directly into their bank accounts. Income tax payers, government employees, professionals and some other groups are excluded, and eKYC is compulsory. Our detailed PM-KISAN guide explains registration, eKYC and how to check the beneficiary status.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
The Kisan Credit Card gives a revolving credit limit for crop cultivation, post-harvest expenses, farm maintenance and allied activities. Under the government's interest subvention scheme, short-term crop loans carry a concessional rate, and farmers who repay on time get an extra prompt repayment incentive. In the Union Budget 2025-26 the government announced that the loan limit under this interest subvention scheme would rise from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh; ask your bank how the current limit and rate apply to your account.
How to apply: visit your bank branch with land records, Aadhaar, a photo and the crop plan. PM-KISAN beneficiaries can use the simple one-page KCC form available on the PM-KISAN website. Banks are expected to process a complete KCC application within a short time; if it is delayed, write to the branch manager and then to the bank's grievance cell.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
PMFBY insures notified crops against losses from natural calamities, pests and diseases, from sowing to post-harvest stages. The farmer pays a small, fixed share of the premium: 2% of the sum insured for kharif crops, 1.5% for rabi crops and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops. The rest is paid by the central and state governments.
- Enrolment is voluntary for all farmers, including loanee farmers, who can opt out by informing the bank before the cut-off date.
- Report localised losses (such as hailstorm or flooding of a field) within 72 hours through the Crop Insurance app, the insurance company or the helpline 14447.
- Claims are paid into the bank account once yield data or field assessment is complete.
PMFBY is one of several state-backed covers; see our list of insurance schemes run by the government for life and accident cover too.
PM-KUSUM solar pumps
PM-KUSUM, run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has three parts. Component A supports small solar power plants on barren or fallow land. Component B gives subsidy for standalone solar pumps where there is no grid power. Component C helps solarise existing grid-connected pumps so the farmer can use solar power and sell the surplus to the electricity company. The central and state shares of subsidy differ by component and state, so the farmer's own contribution varies. Apply only through your state's nodal agency; the official portal lists them.
Beware of fake PM-KUSUM websites that ask for a registration fee. The ministry has issued public warnings about such sites.
Soil Health Card and other agriculture government schemes
- Soil Health Card: your soil is tested for nutrients and you get a card with fertiliser and manure advice for your crops. Ask the agriculture extension officer or Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
- e-NAM: an online trading platform linking mandis, so farmers can sell produce to buyers beyond the local market. Register through your APMC mandi or enam.gov.in.
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: interest subvention and credit guarantee on loans for warehouses, cold storage and other post-harvest projects, for farmers, FPOs and agri-entrepreneurs.
- PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana: a voluntary, contributory pension for small and marginal farmers. The farmer pays a monthly amount based on entry age, and the government contributes an equal amount. Older family members can look at our page on schemes for senior citizens .
State schemes: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana
- Maharashtra: Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi pays an additional Rs 6,000 a year from the state to farmers who receive PM-KISAN. The state agriculture department also runs subsidy schemes through the MahaDBT portal.
- Uttar Pradesh: subsidies on seeds, equipment and other inputs are given through the UP agriculture department's online registration; farmers register once and apply for each subsidy. Check upagriculture.com for open schemes.
- Telangana: Rythu Bharosa provides investment support per acre to eligible farmers, along with the state's farmer insurance scheme. Rates and conditions are set by the state government each season.
State subsidy lists change every season. Confirm the current scheme and last date on the state agriculture portal or with your block agriculture officer.
Documents farmers usually need
- Aadhaar card and mobile number linked to Aadhaar
- Bank passbook of an Aadhaar-seeded account
- Land record (7/12 extract, khatauni, pahani or patta as used in your state)
- Sowing certificate or crop details for insurance, where asked
- Passport-size photo and caste certificate if the subsidy has a category quota
Common problems and what to do
- Land record not updated after inheritance: get the mutation done at the tehsil or revenue office first, then apply.
- Insurance claim not received: check the policy status on pmfby.gov.in, then call 14447 with your application number.
- Bank refusing KCC: ask for the refusal in writing and contact the bank's grievance cell or the lead district manager.
Health cover for the whole family is available to eligible households through Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY . HindiScope is not an official site; confirm scheme details on agriwelfare.gov.in or your state agriculture portal.