PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana, Features, Eligibility, Impact

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme introduced by the Government of India to provide social security and financial stability to small and marginal farmers during old age. Launched in 2019, the PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana covers eligible farmers aged 18–40 years with cultivable landholdings of up to 2 hectares. Subscribers contribute a monthly amount based on their age, while the Central Government makes an equal matching contribution. On attaining 60 years, beneficiaries receive a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month.

The PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana also provides family pension provisions and flexible exit options under specified conditions. It seeks to address income uncertainties and strengthen long-term social protection for India’s vulnerable farming community.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Overview

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana provides a contributory pension framework where eligible farmers make age-based contributions while the Central Government provides an equal matching contribution.

• Nature: Voluntary and contributory pension scheme.
• Launch: The scheme became effective in 2019.
• Target group: Small and marginal farmers.
• Entry age: 18 to 40 years.
• Enrolment: Primarily facilitated through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and state government mechanisms.
• Objective:  PM-KMY aims to provide old-age pension security to small and marginal farmers through voluntary contributions matched by the Central Government.
  • It promotes financial independence, encourages pension planning and provides family-pension benefits to eligible spouses.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Features

Features of PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana combine voluntary participation, age-linked contributions, government matching support and an assured pension for eligible farmers.

• Voluntary and Contributory Scheme: Farmers voluntarily join PM-KMY and contribute to the pension fund during their working years.
• Assured Monthly Pension: Eligible subscribers receive a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month after attaining 60 years.
• Government Matching Contribution: The Central Government contributes an amount equal to the farmer's contribution to the pension fund.
• Age-Based Contribution: The monthly contribution varies according to the subscriber's age when joining the scheme and ranges from ₹55 to ₹200.
• Pension Fund Managed by LIC: The pension fund is managed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India, which administers the pension fund under the scheme framework.
• Family Pension: If the subscriber dies after the pension becomes payable, the spouse is entitled to receive 50% of the pension as family pension, subject to scheme conditions.
• PM-KISAN Contribution Facility: Eligible farmers can opt to use their PM-KISAN benefits to make their voluntary PM-KMY contributions through an authorised auto-debit arrangement.
• CSC-Based Enrolment: Common Service Centres facilitate enrolment and assist farmers with registration and documentation.
• Pension Account: After successful enrolment, a unique Kisan Pension Account Number (KPAN) and pension card are generated.

‹ ›

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Eligibility Criteria

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana eligibility is primarily based on farmer category, landholding size, entry age, land records and compliance with specified exclusion conditions. A farmer must generally satisfy the following conditions:

• The applicant must be a Small and Marginal Farmer (SMF).
• The farmer must have cultivable landholding up to 2 hectares according to the relevant state or UT land records.
• The entry age must be 18 years or above and up to 40 years.
• The farmer's name must appear in the prescribed land records.
• The applicant must possess an Aadhaar card.
• The applicant should have a savings bank account or PM-KISAN account.
• The applicant must not fall under the scheme's exclusion categories.

Exclusions Under PM-KMY

Exclusions under PM-KMY prevent farmers already covered by specified social-security arrangements or belonging to higher economic-status categories from receiving benefits. The following categories are excluded:

• Small and marginal farmers covered under statutory social-security schemes such as NPS, ESIC or EPFO.
• Farmers enrolled in Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM).
• Farmers enrolled in Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana.
• Institutional landholders.
• Former and present holders of constitutional posts.
• Former and present ministers and certain elected representatives.
• Present and former Members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Present and former mayors of municipal corporations.
• Present and former Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
• Serving or retired specified Central and State Government employees.
• Regular employees of local bodies, subject to prescribed exceptions.
• Persons who paid income tax in the last assessment year.
• Practising professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants and architects.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Contribution Structure

The PM-KMY contribution structure requires farmers to make a monthly age-linked payment, with the Central Government depositing an equal matching amount into the pension fund.

• The contribution increases with the age at which a farmer joins the scheme.
  • 18 years: ₹55 per month by the farmer + ₹55 by the government = ₹110 total.
• Thus, younger entrants make lower monthly contributions, while farmers joining closer to the age of 40 contribute more.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Pension and Family Pension

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana pension and family pension provisions provide assured post-retirement income to subscribers while extending limited financial protection to the eligible spouse.

• Monthly Pension: After attaining 60 years, an eligible subscriber receives a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month.
• Family Pension: If the subscriber dies after the pension becomes payable, the spouse is entitled to 50% of the pension as family pension, subject to the scheme's conditions.
• Therefore, a ₹3,000 monthly pension would result in a ₹1,500 monthly family pension for an eligible spouse.
• The family pension applies only to the spouse and is subject to the conditions specified under the scheme.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Enrolment Process

The PM-KMY enrolment process uses Common Service Centres and digital registration to collect farmer identity, banking and nominee information and establish the pension account. Eligible farmers can enrol through the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or through the prescribed state government mechanism. The process broadly involves:

• Visiting the nearest CSC.
• Providing the Aadhaar number and other required information.
• Providing bank-account details and IFSC/MICR information.
• Providing details of the spouse and nominee, wherever applicable.
• Completing the online registration process.
• Making the initial contribution.
• Signing the enrolment-cum-auto-debit mandate.
• Uploading the required documentation.
• Receiving a unique Kisan Pension Account Number (KPAN).
• Receiving the Kisan Pension Card as proof of enrolment.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Documents Required

Documents required for PM-KMY enrolment are designed to establish the farmer's identity, bank account details and eligibility for joining the pension scheme. The principal documents/information required include:

• Aadhaar Card
• Savings Bank Account details
• Bank passbook, cheque leaf or bank statement as evidence of the account
• IFSC/MICR details
• Mobile number, where applicable
• Spouse details
• Nominee details
• Landholding information as required for eligibility verification

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Significance

The significance of PM-KMY lies in providing old-age social security to small and marginal farmers through a contributory pension mechanism supported by the Central Government. The scheme is significant because it:

• Ensures Old-Age Income Security: Provides a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month after the age of 60, helping farmers manage financial needs when their capacity to undertake physically demanding agricultural work declines.
• Promotes Social Security for Vulnerable Farmers: Targets eligible small and marginal farmers with cultivable landholdings of up to two hectares, addressing their limited access to formal pension and retirement-security mechanisms.
• Encourages Long-Term Financial Planning: Promotes voluntary pension participation through age-based monthly contributions starting at ₹55, encouraging financial planning among rural households.
• Shares the Financial Burden: The Central Government makes an equal matching contribution, reducing the amount farmers must contribute towards building their pension entitlement.
• Provides Family-Pension Protection: Offers an eligible spouse a family pension equal to 50% of the subscriber’s pension, subject to scheme conditions, thereby extending social protection to the family.
• Complements Existing Welfare Measures: The facility to use PM-KISAN benefits for PM-KMY contributions through an authorised auto-debit arrangement links income support with long-term pension security.
• Promotes Financial Dignity and Independence: A regular pension can help reduce farmers’ dependence on family members during old age and strengthen their financial autonomy.
• Strengthens Rural Social-Security Architecture: Extends formal pension coverage to eligible farming households and contributes to a broader framework of inclusive social protection.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Exit and Death Benefits

PM-KMY exit and death benefits provide different safeguards depending on whether the subscriber leaves the scheme voluntarily, becomes disabled or dies before or after the pension vesting age.

• Exit Before 10 Years: If a subscriber exits within 10 years, the subscriber's contribution along with savings-bank interest is returned according to the scheme provisions.
• Exit After 10 Years but Before 60: For exit after 10 years but before attaining 60 years, the subscriber's contribution with accumulated interest or the savings-bank interest, whichever is higher, is payable according to the scheme conditions.
• Death Before 60 Years: If the subscriber dies before the pension-vesting age, the spouse can either continue the scheme by paying the remaining contributions or exit under the applicable refund provisions.
• Permanent Disability: If the subscriber becomes permanently disabled before 60, the spouse can continue the scheme by paying the contributions or exit in accordance with the prescribed provisions.
• Death After Pension Begins: If the subscriber dies after pension commencement, the spouse receives 50% of the pension as family pension, subject to scheme conditions.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Impact

The impact of PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana can be assessed through its enrolment, pension coverage and role in expanding social-security awareness among small and marginal farmers. As of 6 February 2026, 24,96,252 farmers had enrolled under the scheme.

• Haryana recorded around 5.75 lakh enrolments.
• Bihar recorded more than 3.46 lakh enrolments.
• Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh each recorded more than 2.5 lakh enrolments.
• Chhattisgarh recorded more than 2 lakh enrolments.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Challenges

Challenges of PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana include limited awareness, long contribution periods, affordability concerns, strict eligibility conditions and difficulties in reaching vulnerable farmers.

• Limited Awareness: Some small and marginal farmers may not fully understand the long-term benefits of voluntary pension planning.
• Long Waiting Period: A farmer joining at a young age must make contributions for several decades before reaching the pension-vesting age of 60.
• Contribution Affordability: Although contributions are relatively low, irregular agricultural incomes may make regular payments difficult for some farmers.
• Limited Coverage: The scheme is specifically designed for small and marginal landholding farmers and therefore does not cover all categories of agricultural workers.
• Land-Record Dependence: Eligibility depends significantly on recognised landholding records, which can create difficulties for farmers whose records are incomplete, disputed or outdated.
• Competition with Other Social-Security Schemes: Farmers covered by specified social-security schemes are excluded, requiring accurate identification and awareness about scheme eligibility.
• Rural Outreach: Reaching farmers in remote areas and ensuring that they understand contribution, pension and exit provisions requires sustained outreach.
• Continuity of Contributions: Maintaining regular contributions over a long period can be challenging when farmers experience crop losses, low farm income or other financial shocks.

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana Way Forward

PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana should focus on improving awareness, strengthening enrolment, facilitating regular contributions and making pension services accessible to vulnerable farmers.

• Increase awareness: Conduct village-level campaigns explaining pension benefits, contributions and family-pension provisions.
• Strengthen CSC outreach: Use Common Service Centres as accessible local points for enrolment and assistance.
• Improve financial literacy: Explain the importance of long-term pension planning to young farmers.
• Facilitate regular contributions: Digital reminders and simple payment mechanisms can help subscribers maintain contribution continuity.
• Strengthen land-record integration: Updated land records can make beneficiary identification more reliable.
• Improve convergence with PM-KISAN: The facility to use PM-KISAN benefits for contributions can be promoted among eligible subscribers.
• Strengthen grievance redressal: Farmers should have accessible mechanisms for resolving contribution, account and pension-related problems.
• Expand women-focused outreach: Eligible women, small and marginal farmers, should receive greater information about pension security.
• Monitor regional gaps: States with comparatively lower enrolment can receive targeted awareness and mobilisation efforts.
• Periodic assessment: The government can periodically evaluate participation, contribution continuity and pension adequacy.