Kisan Credit Card Scheme: Kisan Credit Card (KCC) is a credit facility that helps farmers get timely and suitable finance for their agricultural work. In the Union Budget 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised the Kisan Credit Card loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh. This change was made to improve credit access for farmers, cover their farming needs, and support rural growth.
The Union Budget 2026 kept the Kisan Credit Card policy unchanged. This means the ₹5 lakh loan limit continues for about 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers. Farmers can still get short-term loans at a subsidised rate, which helps them manage their money needs without depending on high-interest informal lenders.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme 2026 - New Update
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the increase in the Kisan Credit Card loan limit from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh in the Union Budget 2025-26. In the Union Budget 2026, the government kept the Kisan Credit Card norms unchanged, so the ₹5 lakh limit stays in place for the current year. This decision supports the 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers who rely on this scheme for their working capital needs.
The higher loan ceiling lets farmers invest in modern farming tools, good quality seeds, fertilisers, and better irrigation systems. Such spending helps improve crop yields and, in turn, raises their overall income. Farmers get a 7% interest rate on loans up to ₹3 lakh, with an extra 3% subvention for timely repayment, which brings the effective rate down to around 4%.
Also Read: PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana
Objectives of Kisan Credit Card Scheme
The main aim of Kisan Credit Card is to give farmers a credit facility they can use for their farming work. The scheme was created to help farmers get the right and timely finance for their agricultural activities. Raising the loan limit under the scheme is a positive step that improves their access to official credit and lowers their dependence on high-interest informal loans.
Kisan Credit Card scheme delivers enough and timely financial support from the banking system through a single window. This gives farmers flexible and easy ways to meet their farming and other money needs.
Key Highlights of Kisan Credit Card Scheme 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Kisan Credit Card Scheme |
| Launched By | Central government of India |
| Objective | To provide credit facilities to farmers |
| Target Beneficiaries | Small and marginal farmers |
| Benefits | Kisan Credit Card limit of ₹5 lakh under MISS |
| Application Mode | Online and offline |
| Official Website | https://fasalrin.gov.in/ |
Kisan Credit Card Scheme Online Application Process
Farmers can apply for the Kisan Credit Card through their bank's website. The process is simple and can be done from home. Follow the steps given below to apply online.
STEP 1 - Visit the official website of your bank and look for the Kisan Credit Card option in the list of available services.
STEP 2 - Click on the 'Apply' button to open the application page.
STEP 3 - Fill in the application form with the required details and click 'Submit'.
STEP 4 - After submission, an application reference number will be generated for tracking.
STEP 5 - If you are eligible, the bank will contact you with the next steps within 3 to 4 working days.
Offline Process
Farmers who prefer the offline process can visit their bank branch directly. They can also download the KCC application form from the bank's website and submit it at the branch. A bank professional can guide you through the application procedure.
Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, farmers should check whether they meet the eligibility conditions. The scheme covers the following people.
- Farmers who are individual or joint borrowers and are owner-cultivators.
- Tenant farmers, oral lessees, and sharecroppers who cultivate land.
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) made up of farmers, including tenant farmers and sharecroppers.
Benefits of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme
The Kisan Credit Card offers many benefits that help farmers manage their farming and household needs. Some of the main benefits are given below:
- Credit for cultivation: Farmers can use the card to buy seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, and other farming supplies.
- Post-harvest expenses: The card can be used to manage costs that come up after the harvest.
- Working capital: The card provides funds for farm assets and operations such as dairy, poultry, and fisheries.
- Equipment purchase: Farmers can use the card to buy farm machinery like pump sets, sprinklers, and tractors.
- Household needs: The card can be used for the daily needs of the farmer's household.
- Crop marketing loans: Farmers can get loans through the card to help market their crops.
Also Read: PM Kisan Installment Date
Types of Kisan Credit Cards
Banks offer different types of Kisan Credit Cards based on the technology they use. A magnetic stripe card comes with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and an ISO International Identification Number (ISO IIN), giving access to all bank ATMs and micro-ATMs. Some banks provide debit cards with magnetic stripes, PIN, and ISO IIN that work with the UIDAI's central biometric authentication system (Aadhaar authentication).
Certain banks offer debit cards that rely only on biometric identification, matching their client base. In the time before the full rollout of UIDAI, banks can keep using their existing central biometric systems, though without interoperability. Financial institutions may also offer EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and VISA) compliant chip cards with magnetic stripes and ISO IIN. The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) have set shared open standards for biometric authentication and smart card technology.
Required Documents
Keep the following documents ready before applying for the Kisan Credit Card:
- Application form.
- Two passport-sized photographs.
- ID proof such as a driver's license, Aadhaar card, voter identity card, or passport.
- Address proof such as a driver's license or Aadhaar card.
- Proof of landholding, certified by the revenue authorities.
- Cropping pattern (crops grown) with acreage.
- Security documents for loan limits above ₹1.60 lakh / ₹3.00 lakh, as applicable.
- Any other documents as approved.
Salient Features
Kisan Credit Card scheme aims to give farmers quick and flexible financial support from the banking system through a single window. The plan covers short-term credit for crop cultivation, post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loans, farmer household consumption, working capital for farm asset maintenance, and investment credit for agriculture and allied activities.
This scheme is very important for the financial stability of farmers, making sure they have the resources they need at the right time. Every part of the Kisan Credit Card plan is designed to support the overall growth of the agricultural sector in India.
Helpline Number
Contact your bank's official helpline number or the Credit Division, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW), Krishi Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110001.
