PM Kisan eKYC Is Mandatory for All 11.8 Crore Registered Farmers to Receive the 22nd Installment of ₹2,000 Expected in March–April 2026 Three Completion Methods Are Available Including OTP-Based Online, Face Authentication via Mobile App, and Biometric Verification at CSC Centres…
PM Kisan eKYC is not optional the Government of India has made it a hard pre-condition for receiving every installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, and farmers who have not completed it before the 22nd installment deadline in March–April 2026 will face payment delays or withheld funds regardless of their eligibility status. The official PM-KISAN website at pmkisan.gov.in carries a permanent notice that reads: “eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers.” The government introduced this requirement from the 15th installment onwards — and data obtained through the Right to Information Act confirmed that more than 48 lakh farmers (approximately 5% of 10.64 crore registered beneficiaries) had not completed eKYC by 2025, directly causing delays in their ₹6,000 annual payments.
PM Kisan eKYC
The government introduced eKYC as a mandatory step to eliminate three specific problems that plagued the scheme’s early years. First, fraudulent registrations where land records were falsified or ineligible persons claimed farmer status needed an identity-verified filter that Aadhaar authentication provides. Second, middlemen who intercepted payments or assisted in fraudulent enrollments required removal from the disbursement chain. Third, the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system requires Aadhaar-to-bank seeding which the eKYC process verifies and confirms simultaneously.
Without a completed eKYC on record, the system cannot confirm the beneficiary’s identity against their Aadhaar and bank account combination which means the payment gateway blocks the transfer at the verification stage, not at the eligibility stage. This explains why otherwise eligible farmers with correct land records and valid bank accounts still miss installments when eKYC remains incomplete.
Method 1: OTP-Based eKYC Online (Fastest Route)
This method works for any farmer whose mobile number is linked to their Aadhaar card. It takes under five minutes from start to completion:
- Open your browser and visit: pmkisan.gov.in
- Locate the “Farmers Corner” section on the homepage
- Click on “eKYC” — a new page opens with an Aadhaar number entry field
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number in the field provided
- Click “Get OTP” — a 6-digit OTP delivers to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number within 60 seconds
- Enter the OTP in the verification field
- Click “Submit” — the portal displays an immediate confirmation message: “eKYC submitted successfully”
If the OTP does not arrive within two minutes, wait briefly and click “Resend OTP” — do not repeatedly submit without the correct OTP, as multiple failed attempts can temporarily lock the session.
Method 2: Face Authentication eKYC via PM Kisan Mobile App
This method suits farmers who have a smartphone but whose Aadhaar-linked mobile number has changed, is inactive, or does not receive OTP reliably:
- Download the PM-KISAN Mobile App from the Google Play Store
- Also download the Aadhaar Face RD App from the Play Store — both apps must be installed simultaneously
- Open the PM-KISAN app and navigate to the eKYC option
- Enter your Aadhaar number and proceed to the face authentication screen
- Hold your phone’s front camera steady at eye level and allow the app to scan your face
- The app matches your live facial data against the Aadhaar UIDAI database in real time
- Upon successful match, the app confirms eKYC completion immediately
Good lighting and a neutral expression improve facial match accuracy — reports suggest avoiding glasses or face coverings during the scan.
Method 3: Biometric eKYC at CSC Centres (Offline Route)
Farmers without smartphones, without Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers, or with repeated online failures should visit their nearest Common Service Centre (CSC):
- Locate the nearest CSC using the locator at locator.csccloud.in or ask at your Gram Panchayat office
- Carry your Aadhaar card and the mobile number registered on PM Kisan to the centre
- The CSC operator uses a biometric fingerprint scanner to capture and verify your identity against UIDAI records
- Upon successful biometric match, the CSC operator updates your eKYC status on the portal in real time
- The operator provides a receipt or verbal confirmation of successful eKYC — request this for your records
CSC operators charge a nominal service fee for this process — typically ₹15 to ₹30 — as part of the standard CSC service pricing structure.
How to Check PM Kisan eKYC Status
After completing eKYC through any of the three methods, verify the update reflects correctly on the portal:
- Visit pmkisan.gov.in and click “Know Your Status” under Farmers Corner
- Enter your Registration Number — the portal sends an OTP to your eKYC-registered mobile number
- Enter the OTP and click “Submit”
- Your beneficiary profile loads — scroll to the eKYC status field
Possible status labels and their meanings:
| Status | Meaning | Action Required |
| Complete | eKYC verified successfully | No action needed |
| Pending | Verification in process | Wait 24–48 hours and recheck |
| Failed | Mismatch in Aadhaar or mobile data | Revisit CSC for biometric correction |
The 22nd Installment: What the eKYC Deadline Means for You
The PM Kisan 22nd installment delivers ₹2,000 directly to beneficiary bank accounts as part of the scheme’s annual ₹6,000 disbursement cycle split across three equal payments. The government expects to release the 22nd installment between March and April 2026 — and only farmers with complete eKYC, valid Aadhaar-bank seeding, and clean land records in the portal qualify for credit on the release date.
Farmers whose 21st installment was delayed due to eKYC incompletion may receive both the 21st and 22nd installments together in a single credit — provided they complete eKYC and resolve all other pending verifications before the 22nd installment release.
The exact last date to complete eKYC before the 22nd installment is not publicly announced by the Agriculture Ministry as of March 12, 2026 — the government has not formally disclosed a cut-off date for this specific installment.
Documents Required: Keep These Ready
Every PM Kisan eKYC method requires the same core documents:
- Aadhaar card — 12-digit number mandatory for all three methods
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar — mandatory for OTP and app methods
- PM Kisan Registration Number — available on your original application receipt or through the portal status check
