Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, today virtually participated in the national event marking the release of the 20th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The event was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

A record ₹20,500 crore has been disbursed directly to the bank accounts of more than 9.7 crore farmers across the country through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. This mechanism ensures full transparency and eliminates the role of middlemen in the process.

Launched in February 2019, PM-KISAN is a centrally sponsored scheme that provides annual financial support of ₹6,000 to land-holding farmers, delivered in three equal instalments into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Since its inception, the scheme has distributed ₹3.69 lakh crore through 19 instalments, with the latest release marking a further boost to the income of small and marginal farmers.

Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Arun Kumar Sinha and Secretary to the Governor Sumant Singh were among the officials who attended the event alongside the Governor.

In line with the nationwide celebration, the Department of Agriculture, Government of Manipur, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the state, observed PM-KISAN Diwas. A total of ₹18,09,88,000 has been disbursed to 74,963 farmers in Manipur under the 20th instalment, reinforcing support to the state’s farming community.

Notably, the ICAR-KVK Imphal West and the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre also commemorated the occasion with special events. These included farmer-scientist interactions to facilitate knowledge exchange and the distribution of agricultural inputs to beneficiaries, highlighting ongoing efforts to empower farmers at the grassroots level.