Agriculture Subsidy Schemes in India: Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply (2026 Guide)

Every year the Government of India spends lakhs of crores of rupees on farmers, yet many eligible families miss out because they do not know which scheme fits them, which documents to keep ready, or why an installment got stuck. This guide explains the main agriculture subsidy schemes in India that are running in 2026, from PM-KISAN income support and PMFBY crop insurance to solar pumps, drip irrigation, farm machinery, drones and fertilizer subsidy. For each scheme you will find the benefit, who is eligible, and where to apply, with figures taken from official sources such as PIB, pmkisan.gov.in, pmfby.gov.in and ministry documents.

What Are Agriculture Subsidy Schemes?

An agriculture subsidy scheme is a government programme that reduces a farmer's cost or risk by paying part of the cost directly, lowering the interest on a loan, or covering losses. In India these schemes come in three forms:

·        Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): money goes straight into the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account, for example PM-KISAN.

·        Cost-sharing subsidy: the government pays a fixed percentage of the cost of a drip system, solar pump, machine or polyhouse, and the farmer pays the rest.

·        Indirect subsidy: the benefit reaches the farmer through a lower price or lower interest, for example fertilizer subsidy paid to companies under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy, or interest subvention on KCC loans paid to banks.

Some schemes are 100% funded by the Centre (Central Sector Schemes like PM-KISAN), while others are shared with states, usually in a 60:40 ratio and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states. That is why the final subsidy amount you get can differ from state to state.

Agriculture Subsidy Schemes in India at a Glance (2026)

The table below summarises the major central schemes. Amounts are from official sources as of the dates mentioned in each section; always confirm the latest guideline with your district agriculture office before applying.

Direct Income and Credit Support Schemes

PM-KISAN: Rs 6,000 Per Year Income Support

PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a Central Sector Scheme that pays eligible farmer families Rs 6,000 a year in three equal installments of Rs 2,000, directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank account. According to the Press Information Bureau, the 23rd installment was released on 20 June 2026 from Tarakeswar, West Bengal, transferring over Rs 18,880 crore to more than 9.44 crore farmers, of whom 2.18 crore were women. Total payouts since the 2019 launch have crossed Rs 4.46 lakh crore.

Who is not eligible: As per the scheme guidelines published by PIB, all institutional landholders are excluded, and so are farmer families where a member holds or has held a constitutional post, is a current or former minister, MP, MLA, mayor or district panchayat chairperson, or is a serving or retired officer/employee of central or state government (some Group D/MTS staff are exempt). Families with an income tax payer in the last assessment year, pensioners drawing Rs 10,000 or more per month, and registered professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers and CAs practising their profession are also excluded under the operational guidelines. Check the latest list on the official PM-KISAN portal.

PM Kisan 24th Installment Date 2026: Current Status

As of 9 October 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture has not officially announced the date of the 24th PM-KISAN installment. Installments usually come every four months (April-July, August-November and December-March periods), so with the 23rd released on 20 June 2026, news reports expect the 24th installment of Rs 2,000 around October-November 2026. A specific date (20 October) has been circulating on social media, but it has not been confirmed by the government. Treat any day-wise date as an estimate until PIB or pmkisan.gov.in announces it. For live updates and a step-by-step status check, see our dedicated page on PM Kisan 24th Installment Date 2026 and installment status.

To make sure your 24th installment is not held back, complete these three things now:

1.  eKYC: It is mandatory. Do it by OTP on the portal, by face authentication on the PM-KISAN app, or by biometric at a Common Service Centre (CSC).

2.  Aadhaar-bank seeding: Your bank account must be linked to Aadhaar and enabled for DBT (NPCI mapping).

3.  Land seeding: Your land record details must be verified and "Land Seeding: Yes" should show in your status.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Modified Interest Subvention Scheme

The Kisan Credit Card is a revolving credit limit from banks for crop cultivation, post-harvest expenses, animal husbandry and fisheries. Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), banks give short-term crop loans at 7% interest; the Centre pays a 1.5% subvention to banks, and farmers who repay on time get a further 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive, bringing the effective rate down to 4% per year.

The Union Budget 2025-26 announced raising the MISS loan limit for KCC from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, and the Cabinet approved continuation of MISS for 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 15,640 crore. A PIB document from March 2026 also notes that collateral-free agri credit has been raised to Rs 2 lakh per borrower. Ask your bank how much of your limit gets the subsidised rate this year, because banks apply the latest RBI/NABARD circular. Women farmers in Self-Help Groups can also borrow through their group; our guide on SHG loan for agriculture explains when a group loan or a KCC suits you better.

Crop Insurance: PMFBY

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

PMFBY is India's main crop insurance scheme. It covers yield loss from natural calamities, pests and diseases, prevented sowing, post-harvest losses (for crops kept drying in the field) and localised calamities such as hailstorm, landslide and inundation. The farmer pays only 2% of the sum insured for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops and 5% for annual commercial and horticulture crops; the rest of the premium is shared by the Centre and states.

In January 2025 the Cabinet extended PMFBY and RWBCIS till 2025-26 with Rs 69,515.71 crore. The current implementation contract ended with Rabi 2025-26, and the Ministry allowed states to continue from Kharif 2026 while the scheme is appraised for the 2026-2030 cycle. A PIB note dated 29 August 2026 mentions Rs 12,200 crore allocated for 2026-27 and says premium rates remain low. Confirm the exact Rabi 2026-27 cut-off date and premium for your crop with your bank or on the PMFBY portal.

Two rules that decide claims:

·        Enrol before the cut-off date notified by your state. Loanee farmers are enrolled through their bank unless they opt out; non-loanee farmers must apply themselves.

·        Report local damage within 72 hours on the Crop Insurance app, through the Krishi Rakshak Portal and helpline 14447, or to your bank/insurer. Keep the ticket number.

For the current season's documents, cut-off dates and online steps, read our PMFBY Rabi registration 2026-27 guide.

Irrigation and Energy Subsidies

1. PM-KUSUM: Solar Pump Subsidy

PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Under Component B, individual farmers can install standalone solar pumps up to 7.5 HP. According to MNRE, the central financial assistance (CFA) is 30% of the benchmark or tender cost (whichever is lower), the state gives at least 30%, and the farmer pays the remaining up to 40%, of which banks can finance a large part so the farmer's upfront share can be about 10%. In North Eastern states, Sikkim, J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, the CFA is 50%. Component C supports solarising existing grid-connected pumps.

Status flag: MNRE set 30 September 2026 as the commissioning deadline for Component B projects, and the Department of Expenditure has said committed liabilities will move to a proposed PM-KUSUM 2.0. New applications depend on whether your state still has sanctioned capacity, so check with your state nodal agency (usually the state renewable energy development agency) before paying anything. Beware of fake "KUSUM registration" websites asking for fees.

2. PMKSY Per Drop More Crop: Drip and Sprinkler Subsidy

Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), a part of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and implemented under RKVY since 2022-23, pays for drip and sprinkler systems. As per a PIB note of August 2026, small and marginal farmers get 55% and other farmers get 45% financial assistance, for up to 5 hectares per beneficiary. Many states add their own top-up, so the final subsidy in some states is much higher. The same land becomes eligible again after seven years. The scheme had covered over 115 lakh hectares by July 2026. Apply through your state's micro-irrigation or horticulture department portal; the subsidy is usually released after the system is installed and verified.

Farm Machinery and Drone Subsidies

1. SMAM: Farm Machinery and Tractor Subsidy

The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), now under the RKVY umbrella, helps farmers buy tractors, power tillers, rotavators, seed drills, sprayers and other machines. Under SMAM norms, SC/ST, small and marginal and women farmers commonly get about 50% of the machine cost (within a ceiling for each machine), while other farmers get about 40%. Funds also support Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) and farm machinery banks, where groups and FPOs can get higher assistance, so that small farmers can rent machines instead of buying them. Subsidy is paid to the Aadhaar-linked bank account. Apply on the agricultural machinery DBT portal or your state's DBT agriculture portal; selection is often by lottery when applications exceed targets. Exact rates and ceilings change each year and vary by state.

2. Namo Drone Didi

Namo Drone Didi is a Central Sector Scheme that gives agricultural drones to women Self-Help Groups so they can rent drone spraying services to farmers. As per the PIB backgrounder and operational guidelines, the Centre pays 80% of the cost of the drone package, up to Rs 8 lakh, to selected SHGs, covering 15,000 SHGs during 2024-25 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs 1,261 crore. The balance can be taken as a loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund with 3% interest subvention, and one SHG member gets 15-day drone pilot training. Read our detailed guide on drone subsidy for farmers under SMAM and Namo Drone Didi for eligibility, how to apply and spraying rules.

Soil, Organic and Horticulture Schemes

1. Soil Health Card Scheme

The Soil Health Card scheme gives farmers a free card that shows the status of 12 soil parameters, including NPK, pH, organic carbon and micronutrients such as zinc, iron and boron, along with fertilizer recommendations for their crop. Since 2022-23 it runs as the "Soil Health and Fertility" component of RKVY. According to PIB, over 25 crore cards had been distributed by July 2025, and 8,272 soil testing labs (static, mobile, mini and village-level) were set up. Learn how to read all 12 parameters in our guide on how to read a Soil Health Card.

The real value of the card comes when you act on it. If your report shows low zinc, a correction such as Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate 33% fertilizer at the label dose is a common fix; for multiple micronutrient deficiencies, a chelated mix micronutrient fertilizer can be used as advised by your local agriculture officer. Where the card shows low organic carbon, farmers often add organic matter along with a humic acid fertilizer to support root growth and nutrient uptake.

2. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Organic Farming

PKVY promotes cluster-based organic farming. According to a PIB document of October 2025, the scheme gives Rs 31,500 per hectare over three years: Rs 15,000 for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs paid by DBT, Rs 9,000 for training and capacity building, Rs 4,500 for marketing, packaging and branding, and Rs 3,000 for certification and residue analysis. A cluster has 50 or more farmers covering at least 20 hectares, and each farmer can be covered up to 2 hectares. Certification is done under PGS-India. If you are planning to switch, bio-fertilizers are a useful start. Farmers who want chemical-free farming without organic certification can also look at the separate natural farming mission subsidy under NMNF.

3. MIDH: Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture

MIDH supports fruit, vegetable, flower, spice, mushroom, plantation and medicinal crops. Assistance covers new orchards and area expansion, polyhouses and shade-net houses, mulching, nurseries, pack houses, cold storage and ripening chambers. The pattern of assistance is generally a percentage of a fixed cost norm, typically 40% in general areas and 50% in North Eastern and Himalayan states, tribal areas and island UTs, as stated in official Lok Sabha replies and MIDH cost norms. Subsidy is usually back-ended: you build first, get inspected, and then receive the subsidy, so plan your bank finance. Apply through your State Horticulture Mission or district horticulture officer.

Livestock, Infrastructure and Market Schemes

1. National Livestock Mission (NLM)

The Entrepreneurship Development Programme under the National Livestock Mission gives a 50% capital subsidy for credit-linked or self-financed projects in poultry, sheep and goat, piggery, and feed and fodder. As per Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying tables, the ceiling is up to Rs 25 lakh for poultry, up to Rs 50 lakh for sheep and goat units, up to Rs 30 lakh for piggery and up to Rs 50 lakh for feed and fodder units. The subsidy is released in two installments. Apply on the NLM portal (nlm.udyamimitra.in) with a detailed project report.

2. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is a financing facility for post-harvest and community farm assets such as warehouses, cold stores, sorting and grading units, primary processing units and custom hiring centres. All loans get 3% per year interest subvention on loans up to Rs 2 crore for up to 7 years, and credit guarantee cover through CGTMSE for loans up to Rs 2 crore. Borrowers must bring at least 10% of the project cost. As per a parliamentary reply, Rs 59,943 crore had been sanctioned for 98,744 projects by 28 February 2025. The scheme period runs up to 2032-33. Apply on the AIF portal or through your bank. FPOs borrowing for such assets should also read about the FPO credit guarantee scheme to see which guarantee cover applies to them.

3. e-NAM: National Agriculture Market

e-NAM is an online trading platform that links APMC mandis so farmers can sell to buyers from other markets and receive payment in their bank account. As per a PIB document, by March 2026, 1,656 mandis across 23 states and 4 UTs were integrated, with over 1.80 crore farmers and 4,724 FPOs registered. It is not a cash subsidy, but it can improve the price you realise. Register on enam.gov.in or at your nearest e-NAM mandi.

4. Fertilizer Subsidy (NBS and Urea)

Fertilizer subsidy is the largest indirect agriculture subsidy in India. Urea is sold at a fixed statutory MRP, and for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers such as DAP, NPK and MOP, the Centre pays a fixed subsidy per kg of nutrient (N, P, K, S) to companies under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy. For Kharif 2026 (1 April to 30 September 2026), the Cabinet approved NBS rates with a tentative budget of about Rs 41,534 crore, as per PIB. Rabi 2026-27 rates are announced separately; check PIB for the latest. Farmers get this benefit automatically by buying from an authorised retailer, where the sale is recorded on a PoS machine with Aadhaar authentication. Using fertilizer as per your Soil Health Card helps you get the most from this subsidy.

How to Apply for Agriculture Subsidy Schemes: Step by Step

The process differs slightly by scheme, but most central and state agriculture subsidies follow these steps:

1.  Check eligibility: Read the scheme guideline on the official portal or ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra, block agriculture officer or bank. Use the myScheme.gov.in eligibility checker if you are unsure.

2.  Get your Farmer ID ready: Many states are now issuing a Farmer ID (Kisan Pehchaan Patra) under the AgriStack digital farmer registry, linking Aadhaar with land records. Where available, registering for it makes later applications faster.

3.  Update Aadhaar and bank details: Make sure your mobile number is linked to Aadhaar, and your bank account is Aadhaar-seeded and DBT-enabled.

4.  Keep land records updated: Mutation (dakhil-kharij) should be in your name. For tenants, keep the tenancy agreement or sowing certificate where the scheme allows it.

5.  Apply on the right portal: Use the official portal (listed in the table above), your state's DBT agriculture portal, or a CSC. Do not pay any agent or a website that is not a gov.in domain.

6.  Upload documents and submit: Upload clear scans; note down the application or registration number.

7.  Verification: The patwari/agriculture officer verifies land and, for equipment schemes, may visit the field after installation.

8.  Buy or install only after approval: For machinery, drip, solar pump and horticulture subsidies, buy from empanelled suppliers after you get the sanction or lottery selection letter, and keep the GST invoice.

9.  Track payment: Check status online and in your bank passbook.

Documents Required for Farmer Subsidy

·        Aadhaar card (linked to mobile)

·        Bank passbook or cancelled cheque of an Aadhaar-seeded account

·        Land records: khatauni/7-12 extract/jamabandi/patta, as applicable in your state

·        Farmer ID, where your state has issued it

·        Passport-size photograph

·        Caste certificate (for SC/ST higher subsidy) and small/marginal farmer certificate where asked

·        Sowing certificate (for PMFBY) or tenancy agreement for tenant farmers

·        Quotation/invoice from an empanelled dealer (machinery, drip, solar pump)

·        Project report (for AIF, NLM and larger MIDH projects)

How to Check Your Scheme or Payment Status

·        PM-KISAN: Go to pmkisan.gov.in, open "Know Your Status" in Farmers Corner, and enter your registration number (use "Know your registration number" with Aadhaar or mobile if you do not have it). Check eKYC, land seeding and Aadhaar-bank seeding. Helpline: 155261 / 011-24300606.

·        PMFBY: Use "Application Status" on pmfby.gov.in or the Crop Insurance app with your receipt number. Helpline: 14447.

·        SMAM / state DBT: Log in to agrimachinery.nic.in or your state DBT agriculture portal with your application number.

·        PFMS (any DBT): The "Know Your Payments" option on the PFMS portal shows DBT credits using your bank account number.

·        e-NAM: Track lots and payments in the e-NAM app.

Common Reasons Subsidy Applications Get Rejected

Most delays are not about eligibility but about mismatched records. These are the most common causes:

·        eKYC not done: PM-KISAN installments are held back for farmers without completed eKYC.

·        Name mismatch: Your name spelled differently in Aadhaar, bank and land records.

·        Aadhaar not seeded with the bank or the account not DBT-enabled (NPCI mapping).

·        Land not in your name: Pending mutation after the death of the earlier owner, or joint land without clear share.

·        Falling under an exclusion category: For example, an income tax payer or government employee in the family for PM-KISAN.

·        Missing the cut-off date: PMFBY enrolment closes on the state-notified date and late applications are not accepted.

·        Late loss reporting: Local crop damage not reported within 72 hours under PMFBY.

·        Buying before sanction: Equipment bought before approval, or from a non-empanelled dealer, is usually not eligible.

·        Repeat benefit: Applying for a subsidy already availed on the same land within the restricted period (for example, seven years for micro-irrigation).

·        Wrong or blurred documents and incomplete forms.

State Government Agriculture Subsidy Schemes

Central schemes are only part of the picture. Most states run their own subsidies and top-ups: extra micro-irrigation subsidy over the central 45-55%, state income support schemes, free or subsidised seed, solar pump top-ups, interest-free crop loans through cooperatives, and organic or natural farming missions. Because names, amounts and deadlines change every season, the best sources are your state agriculture department website, the state DBT agriculture portal, your Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and the district agriculture office. To keep track of dates, use our agriculture schemes calendar with month-wise deadlines, and check the latest Rabi MSP crop-wise rates before you sell.

Conclusion

Agriculture subsidy schemes in India can put real money back into a farmer's pocket: Rs 6,000 a year from PM-KISAN, crop insurance at 1.5-2% premium, crop loans at an effective 4%, and 45-55% support on drip irrigation, with more from machinery, solar pump, horticulture and livestock schemes. The key is to keep Aadhaar, bank and land records matching, apply only on official portals, and watch cut-off dates. For the PM Kisan 24th installment, finish eKYC and land seeding now and wait for the official announcement on pmkisan.gov.in.

Once your soil test and subsidies are in place, the next step is using the right inputs at the right dose. Explore soil nutrition, micronutrient and crop protection products from Katyayani Organics (katyayaniorganics.com), and talk to our agronomy team if you are unsure what your Soil Health Card recommends.