Status of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme at the National Level: A Comprehensive Analysis of Trends and Growth Patterns

Background/Objective: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, launched on February 24, 2019, represents India’s largest direct income support initiative for farmers, providing ₹6,000 annually to eligible landholding farmer families. As agriculture engages 41% of India’s workforce while contributing only 15.5% to GDP, understanding the scheme’s implementation trajectory becomes crucial for assessing its effectiveness in addressing agrarian distress. This study examines the national and state-level status of PM-KISAN scheme implementation, analyzing beneficiary coverage, fund disbursement patterns, and growth trends from 2018-19 to 2023-24. Methods: The study employed time series analysis using secondary data from official PM-KISAN portals, Ministry of Agriculture reports, and Union Budget documents spanning six financial years. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and log-linear growth models were applied to assess beneficiary enrollment trends, fund allocation patterns, and disbursement dynamics. State-wise comparative analysis examined regional disparities in scheme penetration. Growth rate calculations utilized the formula: r = (antilog b – 1) × 100, where b represents the regression coefficient from log-linear models. Data encompassed 36 states/union territories with analysis of 15 installment cycles. Results: National beneficiary coverage increased from 30.27 million in 2018-19 to 92.11 million in 2023-24, reflecting a CAGR of 24.93%. However, significant inter-installment fluctuations emerged, with Installment-12 experiencing -18.17% decline. Total fund disbursement reached ₹2,81,194.46 crores over the period, with Uttar Pradesh consistently leading at 22.77% of national beneficiaries. Budget utilization improved from 31.61% in 2018-19 to 105.83% in 2024-25. Women beneficiaries comprised 19.99 million (21.71% of total) as of January 2024. Log-linear analysis revealed deceleration in growth rates post-2021-22, indicating maturation phase challenges. Conclusions: PM-KISAN demonstrates substantial outreach expansion but faces sustainability challenges including beneficiary verification issues, payment delays, and regional disparities. Enhanced monitoring mechanisms, improved data infrastructure, and targeted interventions for underrepresented states are essential for optimizing scheme effectiveness and ensuring inclusive coverage.