Why in News ?
The Union government on Monday released the 17th instalment of the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme as the first decision of the new Narendra Modi government.
What is PM Kisan Nidhi Scheme ?
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN, translation: Prime Minister’s Farmer’s Tribute Fund) is an initiative by the government of India that give farmers up to ₹6,000 (US$72) per year as minimum income support. The initiative was announced by Piyush Goyal during the 2019 Interim Union Budget of India on 1 February 2019.
Ministry – Ministry of Agriculture
Today’s News :
The Opposition said Mr. Modi, by signing the file, has done nobody a great favour as these are legitimate entitlements due to the beneficiary farmers by his government’s policy.
The Union Agriculture Ministry said in a release that after being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time, Mr. Modi signed his first file authorising the release of the latest instalment. “This will benefit 9.3 crore farmers and distribute around ₹20,000 crore,” the release said.
Mr. Modi said his government is fully commit- ted to the welfare of farmers. “It is therefore fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to farmers’ welfare,” he said.
Terming the decision a “great show”, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the 16th instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi was due in January, but was delayed by a month for the PM’s electoral calculus.
“The ‘one-third’ Pradhan Mantri has done nobody a great favour by signing this file: these are legitimate entitlements due to farmers according to his government’s own policy,” he said.