Price Support Scheme (PSS)
- Context: The Central Government has recently approved the large-scale procurement of pulses and oilseeds under the PSS.
About the Price Support Scheme (PSS)
- PSS – A Central Government agricultural procurement scheme.
- Operates under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme.
- Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- When initiated – Only when the market price of produce meeting Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards falls below the announced Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Beneficiaries and Eligibility
- Farmers must register in advance on portals approved by the State Government, providing valid land records.
- Produce must meet FAQ criteria.
- All payments will be made directly to the farmer’s registered bank account.
- Procurement operations continue until market prices stabilize above the MSP or for a period of 90 days (whichever is earlier).
Objectives
- To protect farmers from economic losses during market slumps and to make essential commodities available to consumers at affordable prices.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
- Context: The 23rd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was recently released.
About PM-KISAN
- Launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 24 February 2019
- A Central Sector Scheme
- Provides ₹6,000 annually to eligible farming families in three installments of ₹2,000 each via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Objective
- To supplement farmers’ income for agricultural needs and daily expenses, and to reduce reliance on informal credit
Eligibility
- Covers all land-holding farming families (husband, wife, and minor children)
- Selection based on State/Union Territory land records
- Aadhaar-linked bank account and e-KYC are mandatory
Key Features
- Direct Benefit Transfer to Aadhaar-linked accounts ensures transparency
- Beneficiary lists displayed in villages for public awareness
- Annual physical verification of 5% of beneficiaries
- Online grievance redressal system
Technology Used
- e-KYC via OTP, biometrics, and facial recognition
- PM-KISAN mobile app for registration and status tracking
- Kisan-eMitra AI chatbot for multilingual support (in collaboration with EkStep Foundation & Bhashini)
