PM Kisan eKYC: three ways to complete it

eKYC is mandatory for every farmer registered under PM-KISAN. It confirms through Aadhaar that the person receiving the money is the real beneficiary, so that the installment reaches the intended farmer’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account without any middleman. If your eKYC is not done, your installments are held back until it is.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare offers three ways to complete eKYC: an OTP on the portal or app, a fingerprint scan at a Common Service Centre or State Seva Kendra, and a face scan in the PM-KISAN mobile app. You need to use only one of them.

Why eKYC is mandatory

The eKYC note on the portal gives the reason in one sentence: to ensure the benefit reaches the intended beneficiaries in their Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts without involvement of any middlemen. eKYC sits alongside land seeding and bank seeding as one of the three conditions every payment depends on. The PIB note of 30 October 2026 repeats this: benefits are provided to farmers whose land records are seeded on the portal, whose bank accounts are linked with Aadhaar, and whose eKYC is complete.

The three modes compared

The PM-KISAN portal also notes that biometric eKYC is available through CSC operator logins, the PM-KISAN app and logins of state-authorised users, so state agriculture staff may be able to help you in the field or at camps.

OTP-based eKYC on the portal

This is the quickest route if your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar and you can receive SMS.

1. Open the portal at pmkisan.gov.in.
2. Click e-KYC near the top right of the home page.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number.
4. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and submit.

The phone that receives the OTP must be the one registered with Aadhaar — not just the number you gave PM-KISAN. If you changed your phone number and never updated it at an Aadhaar centre, the OTP will go to the old number. In that case, use the biometric or face option instead, or update your mobile number in Aadhaar first.

Biometric eKYC at a CSC or State Seva Kendra

Biometric eKYC uses your fingerprint and suits farmers whose mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar. The eKYC note says this service is available at over 4 lakh Common Service Centres and various State Seva Kendras.

1. Find your nearest CSC through the CSC locator.
2. Go there with your Aadhaar card and your Aadhaar-linked mobile number if you have one.
3. The operator will authenticate you with your fingerprint.
4. Pay the convenience fee of ₹15 and ask for a receipt.

If a centre asks for much more than ₹15 for PM-KISAN eKYC, you can go elsewhere and report it to your district agriculture office.

Face authentication in the PM-KISAN app

Face authentication lets you complete eKYC from home with a phone camera, without OTP or fingerprint. It was added to the PM-KISAN app in 2023 and helps elderly farmers whose fingerprints are worn and farmers whose mobile is not linked to Aadhaar.

1. Install the PM-KISAN app and the Aadhaar FaceRD app from the Google Play Store.
2. Open PM-KISAN and log in with your PM-KISAN registered mobile number.
3. You will land on the beneficiary status page.
4. If eKYC shows No, tap eKYC, enter your Aadhaar number and give consent for the face scan.
5. Hold the phone steady in good light and scan your face. When it succeeds, eKYC is complete.

The app also lets a farmer help others in the neighbourhood: The PIB note of 1 August 2025 has described how one farmer can assist up to 100 other farmers with face-based eKYC on their doorstep. Step-by-step tips are on the PM-KISAN app page.

When the status updates

The eKYC note says the status of eKYC done through any mode is reflected in your beneficiary status after 24 hours. Do not repeat eKYC again and again in the same day. Wait a day, then check in Know Your Status, the app, or the Kisan e-Mitra chatbot.

eKYC errors and what usually causes them

If your eKYC succeeded but the status still shows No after a few days, raise a complaint on the Helpdesk – Query Form or through Bharati on 155261. Read the helpline and grievance page for all routes.

A name mismatch between Aadhaar and your PM-KISAN record can block eKYC and payment. The portal allows farmers to edit their name to match Aadhaar; see self-registration correction.

How eKYC fits with land seeding and bank seeding

When you open your status on the portal or in the app, you usually see three separate lines: eKYC, land seeding and Aadhaar-bank seeding. Each one is handled by a different party, so it helps to know who to approach.

Finishing eKYC does not fix land seeding or bank seeding, and the other way round. A farmer who has done eKYC but whose land seeding shows No will still not be paid. If eKYC is done and the other two are also Yes, the installment should follow in the next release. Read more about land seeding and Aadhaar-bank seeding.

eKYC for elderly or remote farmers

• Elderly farmers with faint fingerprints usually succeed with face authentication. A family member or neighbour can run the app on their own phone, as long as the farmer whose eKYC it is is present for the face scan.
• Farmers without smartphones can visit a CSC or a State Seva Kendra, or ask the village agriculture worker about eKYC camps.
• Farmers whose Aadhaar details are outdated should update them at an Aadhaar centre before trying eKYC.

Is there a last date for eKYC?

The PM-KISAN portal currently says simply that eKYC is mandatory; it does not give a national last date. In practice, every installment is released only to farmers whose eKYC is complete at the time the payment list is prepared. If you miss one release because eKYC was pending, the PM-KISAN FAQ says due installments are paid once the cause of delay is resolved — unless you were rejected under the exclusion rules. Complete eKYC as early as possible rather than waiting for news of the next installment.

A checklist before you start eKYC

• Know which mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar, and keep that phone with you for OTP eKYC.
• Make sure your Aadhaar details, especially the photo and name, are up to date.
• For face authentication, install both PM-KISAN and Aadhaar FaceRD from Google Play before you begin.
• For CSC visits, carry your Aadhaar card and keep ₹15 for the fee.
• Note the date you completed eKYC so you know when to check the status, 24 hours later.

If you have no Aadhaar-linked mobile at all

Many farmers, especially older ones, never linked a mobile number to Aadhaar. You do not need to do so for PM-KISAN eKYC: face authentication in the app and fingerprint eKYC at a CSC both work without an Aadhaar OTP. Linking a mobile number at an Aadhaar centre is still worth doing for other services.

Safety tips

• Never share the eKYC OTP with anyone who calls you. Enter it only on pmkisan.gov.in or in the official app.
• eKYC does not require you to send photos of your Aadhaar card on WhatsApp.
• The official app is PM-KISAN from the National Informatics Centre on Google Play. Avoid APK files.

FAQ

Related: Aadhaar-bank seeding, why payments stop, and the PM Kisan FAQ.