Kisan Credit Card Yojana 2026-27: Agricultural loan up to ₹ 3 lakh at only 4% interest, know the complete rules of online application and eligibility.

In the Indian agricultural sector, ‘Kisan Credit Card’ (KCC) scheme, run by the Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to free the farmers from the high interest rates of moneylenders and informal lenders, has emerged as the most effective loan solution. Many times, during the sowing season, farmers face acute shortage of cash for immediate purchase of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and diesel. To overcome this problem, this card is issued through all commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs) and co-operative banks under the model prepared by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

The biggest feature of this scheme is that it is a ‘Revolving Cash Credit’ system. That is, the farmer is given an approved credit limit, from which he can withdraw money as per his need and can deposit the principal amount and interest after the crop is sold. Apart from this, now the extension of this scheme is not limited only to farming, but animal farmers involved in dairy, animal husbandry, poultry farming and fisheries can also avail the benefit of KCC for their working capital.

The financial facilities available under Kisan Credit Card Scheme make it much cheaper than any normal personal or commercial loan:

1. Subsidized Interest Rate: Generally the standard interest rate of banks on agricultural loans is 9%. The Central Government gives a direct interest subvention of 2% on this, due to which the base interest rate reduces to 7%.

2. 3% additional incentive on timely payment: If the farmer makes regular payment of his loan on the scheduled date or immediately after harvesting, he gets a Prompt Repayment Incentive of 3% from the government. In this way the farmer gets only 4% annual simple interest Just have to give.

3. Collateral-Free Loan up to ₹1.60 Lakh: For the convenience of small and marginal farmers, there is no need to mortgage any land or give any guarantee on agricultural loans up to ₹ 1.60 lakh. In cases where there is a tie-up agreement between the bank and the farmer, this limit is also recognized up to ₹2 lakh.

4. Standard credit cover up to ₹3 lakh: The loan limit is generally up to ₹3 lakh for crop production, post-harvest household expenses and maintenance of equipment. There is a separate benefit of interest subvention up to ₹ 2 lakh for animal husbandry and fisheries.

5. ATM cum Debit Card (KCC RuPay Card): Farmers are given RuPay enabled KCC ATM card, through which they can make purchases by directly swiping from the POS machine at local fertilizer and seed shops or withdraw cash from any bank’s ATM.

6. Crop Insurance Protection: The crops of KCC account holders automatically come under the protection coverage of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which makes it easy to compensate for crop loss in case of natural disaster or drought.

To ensure that the benefits of KCC reach a wider section of society, the eligibility criteria has been greatly simplified:

• Individual/Joint Landowners: All those farmers who cultivate their own land individually or jointly.

• Sharecroppers and tenant farmers: Oral lessees, tenants, sharecroppers and farmers cultivating land on rent are also eligible.

• Farmer Group: Small farmers organized as Self Help Groups (SHG) or Joint Liability Groups (JLG).

• Pastoralists and Fishermen: Citizens who own milch animals (cow, buffalo, goat), poultry farm, fish farming pond or open aquatic infrastructure.

• Age Limit: The minimum age of the applicant should be 18 years and maximum age should be 75 years (for senior farmers above 60 years of age, it is mandatory to have an adult legal heir as co-applicant).

Minimum paperwork required to get KCC made:

• proof of identification: Aadhaar Card (mandatory for identity verification), PAN Card or Voter ID Card.

• Proof of Residence: Ration card, electricity bill or domicile certificate.

• Legal Documents of Agricultural Land: Khatauni (ROR), Khasra copy, certified copy of Jamabandi, tax receipt and crop sown certificate certified by Patwari/Lekhpal.

• Tenant/Sharecropper Agreement: If the land is on rent, then lease agreement or affidavit.

• Bank Declaration Form: No-dues affidavit of no previous agricultural loan default in any other bank branch.

• Passport size photo and mobile number: Two recent color photographs and active phone number linked to the bank account.

Farmers can complete the application at their convenience through digital means or by visiting the nearest bank branch:

1. Online process through PM-Kisan portal and bank website

1. If you are a registered beneficiary of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), then visit the official portal pmkisan.gov.in Go to.

2. Given under ‘Farmers Corner’ section on the homepage ‘Download KCC Form’ Click on Options.

3. A simple one page form will be downloaded, in which fill the PM-Kisan registration number, Khasra-Khatauni area and crop name.

4. Also, apply directly by visiting ‘Agriculture Loans’ category on the official portal of major public sector banks (like SBI YONO app, PNB One, Bank of Baroda). ‘Apply for KCC’ Digital form can also be filled.

5. Submit the application by filling the required details on the portal and save the application reference number received.

2. Offline process through nearest bank branch or CSC center

1. Visit the nearest branch of the nationalized, rural or district co-operative bank where your savings account is operated.

2. Get the official application form for Kisan Credit Card from the Agriculture Loan Officer.

3. Fill the personal information required in the form, total area of ​​land, details of Kharif/Rabi crops to be sown and required loan amount in clear letters.

4. Attach Aadhaar, letter copy and photograph along with the form.

5. Submit the filled form to the branch manager and take the receipt.

After receipt of the application in the bank, physical verification of the land records and crop rotation submitted is done by the Field Officer. The total credit limit of loan is approved on the basis of ‘Scale of Finance’ (Scale of Finance per acre) determined by the Technical Committee of the district. As per the guidelines of the Central Government, it is mandatory for the banks to approve the KCC and issue the card within 14 working days if all the documents are complete.

Kisan Credit Card in general period of 5 years Is valid for. There is also a provision for annual limit hike of 10% every year, provided the farmer keeps renewing his account every year after harvesting the crop. Farmers are advised to utilize the sanctioned limit only for agricultural purposes and essential inputs and make payment of interest before the due date, so that they continue to get the benefit of minimum concessional rate of 4%.