- Why in news
- On 11 September 2026, PIB marked seven years of PM-KMY, which completes its seventh year on 12 September 2026. Enrolment stood at 24.96 lakh farmers by 6 February 2026.
- What it is
- PM-KMY is a voluntary, contributory old-age pension scheme for small and marginal farmers, launched in 2019. Farmers aged 18-40 pay a monthly contribution and the Centre matches it. LIC manages the pension fund and payouts.
- Administration
- Central Sector Scheme run by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, implemented with LIC.
- Pension
- Minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month after age 60.
- State spread
- Haryana leads enrolments with about 5.75 lakh, followed by Bihar with over 3.46 lakh.
Don’t confuse with PM-KMY vs PM-KISAN: PM-KISAN gives income support of cash transfers; PM-KMY is a contributory pension. Farmers may use PM-KISAN benefits to pay PM-KMY contributions.
Don’t confuse with PM-KMY vs PM-SYM: PM-SYM is the pension scheme for unorganised workers; PM-KMY is for small and marginal farmers. PM-SYM beneficiaries are excluded from PM-KMY.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Gives old-age income security to small and marginal farmers who lack savings or pensions.
- Extends social security to the informal farm sector.
Problems
- Enrolment of about 24.96 lakh is small against India's small and marginal farmer base.
- A fixed ₹3,000 pension may lose real value over decades.
Way forward
- Widen awareness and enrolment through States and CSCs.
- Consider periodic review of the pension amount for inflation.
Put in your answer
Expenditure: ₹540.66 crore utilised since 2019 as of February 2026.
- 2002Prelims Q96Statements on National Old Age Pension Scheme and other welfare schemes' benefits
- 2016Prelims Q76Statements on Atal Pension Yojana: guaranteed pension, family membership, spouse pension
- 2024Prelims Q100Statements on PM-SYM eligibility, contribution, minimum pension and family pension
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- 2.Under the scheme, the pension fund and pension payouts are managed by the National Pension System Trust.
- 3.Under the scheme, the farmer and the Central Government contribute equally to the pension fund.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.PM-KMY is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
True. It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
2.Farmers aged 18 to 40 years are eligible to enrol in the scheme.
True. Entry age is 18-40 years.
3.The farmer and the Central Government contribute equally to the pension fund.
True. The Centre matches the farmer's contribution equally.
4.The pension fund and payouts under the scheme are managed by the National Pension System Trust.
False. Life Insurance Corporation of India manages the fund and payouts.
5.After a pensioner's death, the spouse receives a family pension equal to 50% of the pension.
True. Family pension is 50% of the pension, i.e. ₹1,500 per month.
6.Income tax payers in the last assessment year remain eligible if they hold under two hectares.
False. Income tax payers are excluded.
7.Uttar Pradesh has the highest enrolment under the scheme among all States.
False. Haryana leads, followed by Bihar.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.