New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme for another five years till 2030-31 with a financial outlay of Rs3.15 lakh crore, reaffirming the Centre’s flagship income support programme for farmers. The Cabinet also cleared a series of major initiatives, including an expanded Khelo India Scheme, the Rs84,084-crore ‘Samudra Manthan’ offshore exploration programme and the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana for floating solar projects.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet approved the continuation of PM-KISAN from 2026-27 to 2030-31. Under the scheme, eligible landholding farmer families will continue to receive Rs6,000 annually in three equal instalments through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The government said more than Rs4.47 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers through 23 instalments since the scheme’s launch in February 2019. Over 9.49 crore farmers benefited under the 23rd instalment, which saw the release of more than Rs18,984 crore. During the COVID-19 pandemic, over Rs1.71 lakh crore was disbursed, while women farmers have received more than Rs1.06 lakh crore under the scheme.
Citing an evaluation by NITI Aayog’s Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), the government said over 92 per cent of beneficiaries used the assistance for agricultural activities and investment, while around 85 per cent reported improved farm income and reduced dependence on informal credit.
Among other decisions, the Cabinet approved the revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced assistance to National Sports Federations with a combined outlay of Rs36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31. The government described it as the country’s largest sports development programme since Independence, aimed at creating a seamless pathway from grassroots talent to international sporting success.
The Cabinet also approved ‘Samudra Manthan’—the National Offshore Exploration Scheme—with an outlay of Rs84,084 crore till 2030-31 to boost offshore oil and gas exploration, strengthen domestic energy security and promote indigenous manufacturing and technology development.
In the renewable energy sector, the government cleared the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with an outlay of Rs5,070 crore for developing 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic projects integrated with energy storage systems. The scheme aims to expand renewable energy capacity, reduce carbon emissions and utilise reservoirs and inland water bodies for clean energy generation.
