West Bengal Mukhyamantri Krishak Samman Nidhi Scheme: Up to Rs 9,000 a Year for Farmers

How the two components work, who is covered, what has changed from Krishak Bandhu, and how to enrol.

West Bengal’s farm income support has a new structure. The Mukhyamantri Krishak Samman Nidhi (MKSN) scheme builds on the state’s existing Krishak Bandhu scheme and adds a new top-up for farmers who receive the Centre’s PM-KISAN payments. This post explains both components, who is eligible, the payment schedule, what is different from before, and what is still unclear.

What Is the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samman Nidhi Scheme?

MKSN is run by the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal. The state announced the change at a Cabinet meeting on 28 October 2026, and the Agriculture Department then issued the official notification following Cabinet approval dated 21 October 2026.

The scheme has two components:

• Component-1 continues the state’s land-based cultivation assistance. It is the existing Krishak Bandhu (Natun) scheme in a revised and simplified form.
• Component-2 is new. It gives additional financial assistance to farmers who already receive benefits under the Centre’s PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme.

In other words, MKSN is not an entirely new scheme. It builds on Krishak Bandhu, which now continues as Component-1.

Scheme at a Glance

• Scheme name: West Bengal Mukhyamantri Krishak Samman Nidhi Scheme (MKSN)
• Launched: 2026
• Component-1: Rs 6,000 or Rs 4,000 a year, depending on landholding
• Component-2: Additional Rs 3,000 a year for eligible PM-KISAN beneficiaries
• Combined benefit for PM-KISAN farmers: Up to Rs 9,000 a year (Rs 6,000 from PM-KISAN plus Rs 3,000 from the state)
• Payment mode: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
• Nodal agency: Department of Agriculture, West Bengal
• Helplines: 033-23570021 and 9830383383
• Email helpdesk: kbhelpdeskwebel@gmail.com

Latest Update

The first instalment under Component-2, of Rs 2,000, was released on 5 November 2026 at a state event in Pursurah, Hooghly district. The amount was transferred through DBT to more than 46 lakh eligible PM-KISAN beneficiaries. Reports also mention an allocation of over Rs 1,800 crore from the state for eligible farming families who are not registered under PM-KISAN.

The state expects around 48 to 50 lakh farmers to benefit from Component-2 overall.

Component-1: Land-Based Assistance

Component-1 pays annual assistance based on the amount of cultivable land you hold in West Bengal.

• 40 decimals or more: Rs 6,000 per year.
• Less than 40 decimals: Rs 4,000 per year.
• Payment schedule: Two equal instalments, one in the Kharif season and one in the Rabi season.
• Who is covered: Landowning farmers, and registered bargadars, patta holders, and sharecroppers with valid land records, subject to the scheme conditions.
• Enrolment: Existing Krishak Bandhu (Natun) beneficiaries are considered for automatic enrolment, subject to verification. Other eligible farmers apply through the Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) office at their block.

Component-2: Extra Assistance for PM-KISAN Beneficiaries

Component-2 gives eligible PM-KISAN beneficiaries an additional Rs 3,000 per year from the state, on top of the Rs 6,000 they receive under PM-KISAN.

• Instalments: Three instalments of Rs 1,000 each, paid every four months.
• First payment: Rs 2,000 on 5 November 2026, equal to two instalments credited together.
• Enrolment: Eligible PM-KISAN beneficiaries are considered for automatic enrolment and do not need a separate application, subject to verification.
• Total: Up to Rs 9,000 a year when combined with PM-KISAN.

What Has Changed From Krishak Bandhu?

Particulars	Earlier Krishak Bandhu (Natun)	Revised Component-1
Name	Krishak Bandhu (Natun) Scheme	Mukhyamantri Krishak Samman Nidhi, Component-1
Annual assistance	Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000, based on landholding	Rs 4,000 or Rs 6,000, based on landholding
Farmers with 40 decimals or more	Up to Rs 10,000 a year	Rs 6,000 a year
Farmers with less than 40 decimals	Based on the earlier landholding structure	Rs 4,000 a year
Payment schedule	Two instalments a year	Two equal instalments, in Kharif and Rabi
Death benefit	Rs 2 lakh to the family of a deceased farmer	Not mentioned in the new notification; continuation unclear
Enrolment	Existing Krishak Bandhu registration	Automatic enrolment of eligible existing beneficiaries, subject to verification

Two points deserve attention. First, the new flat structure replaces the earlier sliding scale, so some farmers who previously received more than Rs 6,000 may now receive less. Second, the guidelines do not mention the Rs 2 lakh death benefit, so it is not clear whether it continues. Existing beneficiaries should ask their local Agriculture Department office for the latest position.

Earlier press reports described the Component-2 payment as two instalments, while the official guidelines describe three instalments of Rs 1,000 each. This post follows the guidelines.

Who Is Eligible?

Component-1

• You must be a resident of West Bengal.
• You must own cultivable agricultural land in West Bengal. Registered bargadars, patta holders, and registered sharecroppers with valid land records are also eligible.
• The land possession cut-off date is 1 July 2026. Changes in ownership after this date are generally not considered, with specified exceptions.
• Only one eligible member of a farming family can receive Component-1 assistance.
• You must have a valid Aadhaar-linked bank account enabled for DBT.

Component-2

• You must be an eligible PM-KISAN beneficiary and meet the PM-KISAN conditions.
• You must not fall under the exclusion categories in the PM-KISAN and state scheme guidelines.
• You must have valid bank account details for DBT.

Who Is Excluded?

Subject to the official notification, the following are excluded:

• Institutional landholders
• Current or former holders of constitutional posts
• Serving or retired government employees, except Group D, MTS, and Class IV employees
• People who paid income tax in the previous assessment year
• Practising registered professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects
• Retired pensioners receiving Rs 10,000 or more a month, except eligible Group D, MTS, and Class IV employees
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
• Others covered by the exclusion criteria in the official notification

Documents for Fresh Enrolment (Component-1)

Existing Krishak Bandhu (Natun) and PM-KISAN beneficiaries who are automatically enrolled do not need to submit these again.

• Aadhaar card
• Voter ID or other proof of residence in West Bengal, if required
• Land ownership documents or valid land records
• Record of Rights (RoR), patta, or other relevant land documents
• Documents confirming registered barga status or sharecropping, where applicable
• Bank passbook or bank account details linked with Aadhaar
• Mobile number linked with your Aadhaar or bank account, if required
• Recent photograph, if required

How to Enrol

Automatic Enrolment

If you are an existing Krishak Bandhu (Natun) beneficiary, you are considered for automatic enrolment under Component-1. If you are a PM-KISAN beneficiary, you are considered for automatic enrolment under Component-2. In both cases, enrolment is subject to data validation, and you do not need a fresh application unless the authorities ask for more information.

Fresh Enrolment Under Component-1

Farmers who are not enrolled under Krishak Bandhu (Natun) or PM-KISAN should follow these steps:

1. Visit the office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) at your block.
2. Collect the application form or ask for guidance on fresh enrolment.
3. Fill in your personal, land, and bank account details.
4. Attach your Aadhaar card, land records, and Aadhaar-linked bank details.
5. Submit the form and documents at the ADA office.
6. The Block Agriculture Office scrutinises the application.
7. It then goes through district-level scrutiny and State Nodal Officer (SNO) validation.
8. Authorities verify the beneficiary, validate the Aadhaar-linked bank account, and generate a Unique Beneficiary Identification Number (UBIN).
9. Assistance is then paid to your verified bank account through DBT.

Tips for Farmers

• Check your PM-KISAN and Krishak Bandhu status first. You may already be enrolled automatically.
• Keep your bank account Aadhaar-linked and DBT-enabled. Verification and payment depend on it.
• Update your beneficiary and bank details so there are no mismatches during validation.
• Know your landholding. The Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000 slabs depend on whether you hold 40 decimals or more.
• Remember the cut-off date. Land possession is counted as on 1 July 2026.
• Contact your block ADA office for any doubts about forms, verification, or beneficiary status.
• Do not pay anyone to enrol you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samman Nidhi Scheme? A West Bengal farmer assistance scheme with two components: land-based assistance (Component-1) and an additional payment for PM-KISAN beneficiaries (Component-2).

How much will farmers get under Component-1? Rs 6,000 a year for 40 decimals or more of cultivable land, and Rs 4,000 a year for less than 40 decimals.

How much extra do PM-KISAN beneficiaries get? Rs 3,000 a year under Component-2, paid in three instalments of Rs 1,000.

When was the first Component-2 instalment paid? 5 November 2026, when Rs 2,000 (two instalments together) was transferred.

Can I get both components? Component-1 and Component-2 are based on different conditions: land-based assistance and PM-KISAN beneficiary status. Check your eligibility under each with your block Agriculture office.

Do existing Krishak Bandhu beneficiaries need to apply again? No, eligible beneficiaries are considered for automatic enrolment, subject to verification.

How many family members can get Component-1 benefits? Only one eligible member of a farming family.

Is the Rs 2 lakh death benefit continuing? The new guidelines do not mention it, so its continuation is unclear. Ask your local Agriculture Department office.

How can a new farmer apply? Through the ADA office at their block.

Who can I contact for help? Call 033-23570021 or 9830383383, or write to kbhelpdeskwebel@gmail.com.