On June 20, 2025, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will disburse the 20th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme — but only if over 110 million farmers have completed mandatory e-KYC. Missing this deadline means losing Rs. 2,000, a lifeline for millions of small landholders who rely on these three annual payments to buy seeds, pay off loans, or feed their families. The government’s message is clear: no verification, no money.
Why e-KYC Is Non-Negotiable
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare introduced e-KYC in 2023 to plug leaks in the system. Before this, reports surfaced of middlemen siphoning funds, fake registrations using stolen Aadhaar numbers, and delays caused by manual paperwork. Now, every payment flows directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts — but only if the farmer’s identity is digitally verified. The ministry says this isn’t bureaucracy; it’s justice. "We’re not asking farmers to jump through hoops," said an internal briefing document. "We’re asking them to prove they’re real — so no one else gets their money."
Four Ways to Complete e-KYC — And One New Trick
There are four official ways to complete verification, each designed for different realities across rural India:
- OTP-Based e-KYC: Visit pmkisan.gov.in or open the PM-Kisan Mobile App, enter your Aadhaar number, and submit the OTP sent to your registered mobile. Simple — if you have network coverage.
- Biometric at CSCs: Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) — rural digital kiosks — now offer fingerprint or iris scans. No smartphone? No problem. Just walk in.
- Face Authentication: The newest option, rolled out in early 2025, lets farmers use their phone’s camera. Download the PM-Kisan Mobile App and the Aadhaar Face RD app from Google Play. Look at your screen. Done. No fingerprint, no OTP. Just your face — verified using UIDAI’s secure database.
- Neighbour or Official Help: Here’s the twist: any farmer can help up to 100 others in their village complete e-KYC. And government field officers? Each is authorized to process e-KYC for 500 farmers. That’s over 50 million verifications possible through community-driven support.
"I helped 87 farmers in my block," said Ramesh Kumar, a smallholder from Buxar, Bihar. "I didn’t have a smartphone, but I knew the process. I took them to the CSC. Now they’ll get their money. That’s what community means."
The AI Helper No One Saw Coming
Behind the scenes, Kisan-eMitra — an AI chatbot launched in September 2023 — is quietly fielding 2 million queries a month. It answers questions in 12 regional languages, from Bhojpuri to Tulu. Need to know if your payment failed? Ask Kisan-eMitra. Confused about face authentication? It’ll walk you through it. "It’s like having a government clerk in your pocket," said Dr. Priya Nair, a digital inclusion researcher at the Indian Institute of Rural Development. "For elderly farmers who can’t read, this isn’t tech — it’s translation."
The ministry also integrated Bhashini, an AI-powered language engine, so farmers can now hear scheme details in their mother tongue — not just read them. This isn’t just convenience. It’s equity.
What Happens If You Miss June 20?
If you haven’t completed e-KYC by June 20, 2025, your Rs. 2,000 vanishes — not delayed. Not postponed. Gone. The system auto-blocks payments for unverified accounts. No appeals. No grace period. The portal’s homepage screams it in bold: "eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers."
That’s not a warning. It’s a cutoff. And it’s intentional. The government estimates that over 18 million farmers still haven’t completed verification — mostly in eastern and central states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Many lack mobile phones. Others distrust digital systems. Some are illiterate. A few simply don’t know.
"The scheme was built to reach the poorest," said former agriculture secretary R.K. Singh. "But if the poorest can’t navigate the system, we’ve built a wall around the very people we’re trying to help."
What’s Next? October and Beyond
The next deadline? October 2025 — for the 21st installment. But the real test comes after that. The government plans to make e-KYC a permanent requirement, possibly tying future welfare schemes to the same system. That means farmers who miss this window may face long-term exclusion.
State governments are now deploying mobile vans with biometric scanners to villages with low verification rates. In Uttar Pradesh, officials are holding weekly "e-KYC melas" — open-air verification camps with free tea and snacks. In Madhya Pradesh, schoolteachers are being trained to assist farmers during school holidays.
"We’re not just giving money," said Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a recent address. "We’re giving dignity — but dignity requires proof. And proof requires action."
How to Check Your Status
It takes 30 seconds. Go to pmkisan.gov.in. Click "Beneficiary Status." Enter your Aadhaar or mobile number. The screen shows: your last payment date, the next expected date, and — crucially — your e-KYC status: "Completed" or "Pending."
If it says "Pending," act now. Don’t wait for June 19. Do it today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have a smartphone or internet access?
You don’t need a smartphone. Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) across India offer free biometric e-KYC using fingerprint or iris scans. Just bring your Aadhaar card. Many CSCs are located in post offices, banks, or village panchayat buildings. If you can’t travel, ask a neighbor or local government official — each can help up to 500 farmers.
Can I use someone else’s mobile number for OTP?
No. The OTP must be received on the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. If your number is outdated or disconnected, visit a CSC or use face authentication instead. You can update your mobile number on the PM-Kisan portal under "Update Mobile Number," but only if your Aadhaar is already verified.
Why was face authentication added? Isn’t it risky?
Face authentication uses UIDAI’s secure, encrypted database — not stored on your phone. It’s designed for farmers who can’t use fingerprints due to manual labor or age. The system compares your live face with the Aadhaar photo, not your biometric data. It’s more accessible than biometrics and just as secure. Over 12 million farmers have already used it successfully since its rollout.
What if my e-KYC fails repeatedly?
If your face or biometric verification fails three times, the system flags your case for manual review. Visit your nearest CSC or block-level agriculture office with your Aadhaar and land records. They’ll manually verify your identity and update your status. The Kisan-eMitra chatbot can guide you to the nearest help center in your language.
Will I lose past payments if I complete e-KYC late?
No. Past installments aren’t affected. But you won’t receive future payments — including the June 20, 2025, Rs. 2,000 — until verification is complete. Once verified, future payments resume automatically. There’s no retroactive payout for missed installments, so act before June 20.
Is this system permanent? Will other schemes require e-KYC too?
Yes. The PM-Kisan e-KYC system is being integrated into over 17 other central welfare schemes, including PM Awas Yojana and NSAP. The government is building a unified digital identity layer for rural beneficiaries. This isn’t just about one payment — it’s about reshaping how India delivers welfare. The goal: zero leakage, zero delay, zero exclusion.