New Delhi, Aug. 2 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released the 20th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Varanasi. The instalment is meant to benefit over 9.7 crore farmers across the country, of approximately Rs.20,500 crore, through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

PM Modi launched the PM-KISAN scheme in 2019 to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under the scheme, Rs.6,000 per year in financial benefits are transferred in three equal instalments into farmers' Aadhaar-seated bank accounts through DBT mode.

Since 2019, Rs.3.69 lakh crore has been transferred to farmers' accounts through 19 instalments. Earlier, the PM-KISAN's 19th instalment was released on 24 February...