Centre Flags Irregularities in PM-KISAN Scheme Implementation in Manipur; FIR Filed

Audit Report Uncovers Anomalies, State Takes Action​

New Delhi, April 1 — The Central Government has confirmed that irregularities have been detected in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in Manipur, prompting the state government to lodge an FIR following an audit report.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the anomalies were highlighted in an Accountant General (AG) Audit Report. Based on these findings, the Manipur government initiated legal proceedings.

"As per information received from the Government of Manipur, some irregularities were reported in the Accountant General (AG) Audit Report. Accordingly, the State has lodged an FIR in the matter," the minister stated in a written reply.

Centre Mandates Recovery from Ineligible Beneficiaries​

The minister further explained that all states and Union Territories are required to recover funds disbursed to ineligible recipients. Nationwide, Rs 416 crore has been recovered so far from such beneficiaries.

PM-KISAN: Key Highlights and Progress​

Launched in February 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector initiative aimed at offering financial assistance to farmers owning cultivable land. Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, disbursed in three equal instalments directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Since its inception, the government has disbursed over Rs 3.68 lakh crore through 19 instalments.

Shift from Trust-Based to Technology-Driven Verification​

Initially, the scheme operated on a trust-based self-certification model, with states responsible for beneficiary registration. Aadhaar-seeding was temporarily relaxed for some states during the early phase.

However, to improve transparency and reduce fraud, the Centre introduced technological interventions, including:

• Mandatory land seeding
• Aadhaar-based payment systems
• Electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) requirements

Thakur noted that benefits were withheld for farmers who did not comply with these mandatory criteria. Once farmers fulfill the necessary conditions, they are again eligible to receive their pending instalments.