Understanding Farmer Income Support Schemes

The question asks to identify the scheme that provides direct annual income support to farmers through bank transfers. Let's analyze the options:

• PM Fasal Bima Yojana: This scheme is focused on providing insurance coverage to farmers against crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases. It aims to protect farmers' income by covering risks, but it doesn't provide direct income support payments.
• PM-KISAN: This scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, is specifically designed to provide direct income support to all farmer families in the country. Eligible farmers receive an annual sum of $6000, distributed in three equal installments directly into their bank accounts. This aligns perfectly with the question's requirement for annual income support directly to bank accounts.
• MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act): This scheme guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. While it supports rural livelihoods, it is primarily an employment generation scheme, not a direct income support scheme specifically for farmers.
• PM Jan Dhan Yojana: This is a national mission for financial inclusion that ensures access to financial services, such as banking, savings & deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, and pension, in an affordable manner. It facilitates direct benefit transfers but doesn't provide the specific income support to farmers as described.

PM-KISAN: Direct Income Support Explained

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme directly addresses the need for financial assistance to farmers. Key features include:

• Target Beneficiaries: Small and marginal farmer families.
• Support Provided: An annual financial support of $6000.
• Mode of Transfer: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the eligible farmers' bank accounts.
• Frequency: The amount is typically paid in three equal installments of $2000 every four months.

Therefore, PM-KISAN is the scheme that provides annual income support directly to farmers' bank accounts.