📝 Analysis of RTI Reply: PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Status for Keshav Pratap Singh

The Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Sri Yogi M P Singh concerning the status of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi benefits for farmer Keshav Pratap Singh (Serial No. 244 in the beneficiary list) has received a formal, point-wise reply from the Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA), Mirzapur.

This analysis breaks down the applicant’s questions and the DDA’s official responses, shedding light on the administrative processes and official justifications within the PM Kisan scheme at the district level in Uttar Pradesh.

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RTI Question 1: Exclusion of Father’s Name in Beneficiary List

Applicant’s Query: Provide the reason for not including the name of the father in the beneficiary list of the farmers.

Official Reply (DDA, Mirzapur):

“PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is governed by the Government of India and the portal of this scheme is maintained by the same. No any modification/alteration/updation is not possible at the district level.”

Analysis:

The DDA effectively states that the beneficiary list format is centrally controlled by the Government of India’s PM Kisan portal. The district-level office (Mirzapur) cannot modify the displayed data fields, such as adding the father’s name if the central portal does not mandate or display it. This places the responsibility for the data structure solely with the central government’s PM Kisan system.

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RTI Question 2 & 3: Justification for Demanding Documents (Khatauni, Aadhaar, Passbook)

Applicant’s Query 2: Please provide the reason for the Deputy Director Agriculture asking the applicant for a copy of khatauni, Aadhaar card, and passbook?

Applicant’s Query 3: On the basis of which government order, circular, office memo the Deputy Director of Agriculture is demanding the above documents from the applicant. Please provide a copy of such a gazette.

Official Reply (DDA, Mirzapur):

In compliance of government order-83/2022/776/12-5-2022-सा0-01/2019 dated 15-11-2022 point number 2.3, the farmers are asked to deposit photocopy of khatauni, aadhar card and bank pass book in the office deputy director agriculture. Copy of government order-83/2022/776/12-5-2022-सा०-01/2019 dated 15-11-2022 is attached.

Analysis:

The DDA provides a clear, documented justification. The demand for the physical documents (Khatauni, Aadhaar, and Bank Passbook) is based on a specific Government Order (G.O.) from the Uttar Pradesh government, dated November 15, 2022.

• Key Section: Point 2.3 of the G.O. explicitly states: “A copy of the record uploaded on PM Kisan Portal, signed by Revenue/Agriculture Department personnel, will be mandatorily preserved in the office of Deputy Director of Agriculture.

This proves that the document demand is not arbitrary but a requirement under a formal state government directive, likely to ensure a physical record for verification and audit purposes, especially following the push for land record seeding on the PM Kisan portal.

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RTI Question 4: Demand for Documents after Block/Sub-District Approval

Applicant’s Query: When the online application of the applicant has been approved by the sub-district level or block level, then why is the demand for the above documents being asked to be sent from the district level to the block level?

Official Reply (DDA, Mirzapur):

Copy of government order-83/2022/776/12-5-2022-सा०-01/2019 dated 15-11-2022 is attached.

Analysis:

Instead of a narrative explanation, the DDA again points to the attached G.O. The context of the G.O. (especially points 2.3, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5) outlines a multi-stage verification process:

1. Lekhpal (Revenue) Verification: Checks the land records.
2. Tehsil Login Approval: Approves eligible/verified applications and rejects incomplete/ineligible ones (including those with unclear/unuploaded documents as per Directorate Letter 972).
3. DDA/District Level Approval: Before final approval, the DDA office must collect the self-declaration form and test eligibility, matching details like Aadhaar, name, and father’s name, and preserve a copy of the uploaded record (Point 2.3 and 5.5).

The demand for documents, even after block/tehsil approval, is for the final, mandatory record-keeping and eligibility check at the district (DDA) level, as prescribed by the state G.O.

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RTI Question 5: Reason for Non-Payment despite Inclusion in List

Applicant’s Query: Provide the reason for not sending the instalments of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi into the bank account of the beneficiary Keshav Pratap Singh when his name is included at the serial number 244 in the PM Kisan beneficiary list.

Official Reply (DDA, Mirzapur):

“After doing online registration of farmer at PM Kisan Samman Nidhi portal, the data is being approved by Tehsil login and District login and then after generation of PM Kisan ID at the portal, the beneficiary will get the subsidy of the scheme. But, if the copy of khatauni is not clear or not uploaded then according to point number 5 of Directorate letter number-972/पी०एम०किसान /2022-23 दिनांक 22.09.2022, the application has been rejected of the farmer by the Tehsil login.”

Analysis:

This is the most critical piece of information. The DDA implies that while the farmer’s name might appear on a temporary or preliminary list, the application was ultimately rejected at the Tehsil level. The specific reason cited is non-compliance with the document requirement: the copy of Khatauni was either not clear or not uploaded.

• The DDA references Directorate letter No. 972 (dated 22.09.2022), which explicitly directs that if the mandatory documents (Aadhaar and Khatauni) are not uploaded or are unreadable/unclear, “the data will be rejected” at the Tehsil login.

Therefore, Keshav Pratap Singh has not received payments because his application was administratively rejected after initial registration but before final PM Kisan ID generation due to an incomplete/unclear land record upload.

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RTI Question 6: Justification for Demanding Bank Account Details

Applicant’s Query: There is no reason to ask for a bank account, so the circular should be made available on the basis of which the bank details of the applicant are being sought as payment is made through Indian Post Payment Bank in which Aadhaar of the beneficiary is seeded.

Official Reply (DDA, Mirzapur):

“The copy of bank account is needed to verify the account details seeded in the registration of the farmer.”

Analysis:

While payment for the scheme is processed based on the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS), which relies on Aadhaar seeding with the bank account (often IPPB as noted by the applicant), the DDA explains the reason for demanding the physical copy of the passbook. It is for verification—to ensure the account details entered in the PM Kisan registration match the physical documentation and to confirm the existence and status of the bank account linked to the Aadhaar. This aligns with the overall stringent verification drive mandated by the state government G.O.

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Conclusion and Next Steps for the Farmer

The DDA has provided a clear and legally supported response to the RTI queries. The crucial takeaway for Keshav Pratap Singh is that his application was rejected at the Tehsil level due to an unclear or un-uploaded copy of the Khatauni (land record), as per the directive in Directorate Letter No. 972/PM Kisan/2022-23.

The demands for the Khatauni, Aadhaar, and Passbook are all legally required by the State Government Order (G.O. 83/2022/776/12-5-2022-Sa0-01/2019 dated 15-11-2022) for final district-level verification and record-keeping.

The farmer must now re-apply or use the ‘Updation of Self Registered Farmer’ facility on the PM Kisan portal, ensuring a clear and readable copy of the Khasra Khatauni and Aadhaar is uploaded, and potentially submit the physical documents to the DDA office as requested for official record preservation (Point 2.3).

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PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is not reaching the entitled beneficiaries as intended because it has unfortunately become a hub for brokers and intermediaries, who act as significant stumbling blocks in the process.
These middlemen often exploit the system for their personal gain, diverting resources meant for farmers and rural communities.
This not only undermines the spirit of the initiative but also erodes trust in government schemes.
Therefore, it is crucial for the government to take decisive action to curb the rampant corruption that pervades centrally sponsored schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
Strengthening the enforcement of regulations, increasing transparency, and implementing direct transfer mechanisms could help ensure that the rightful beneficiaries receive the financial assistance they desperately need, ultimately leading to the empowerment of farmers and promoting agricultural growth.

Public aids to farmers under P.M. Kisan Samman nidhi are not reaching to needy

Provide Govt order which only allows certified copy of Khatauni

While a specific Government Order (G.O.) mandating only a certified copy (fard/intikhab) of the Khatauni for the online upload to the PM Kisan portal may not be publicly specified, the administrative actions and internal departmental circulars strongly enforce the requirement for a clear, authentic, and verified document, which often means an official/certified copy.

The available documents, particularly the response from the Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA), Mirzapur, highlights the following:

📜 Relevant UP Government Orders for PM Kisan

The Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) in Mirzapur cited two main documents in the RTI reply that emphasize the need for valid and clear land records, leading to the de facto requirement for a certified copy:

1. UP Government Order (G.O.) No. 83/2022/776/… dated 15-11-2022

This order outlines the comprehensive process for recording land records of farmers on the PM Kisan portal in Uttar Pradesh.

• Point 2.3: Mandates the physical preservation of documents at the district level: “A copy of the record uploaded on PM Kisan Portal, signed by Revenue/Agriculture Department personnel, will be mandatorily preserved in the office of Deputy Director of Agriculture.”
  • Implication: For a copy to be signed and preserved as an official record, it must be verifiable and authentic, which is typically best ensured by a certified (or at least recent, officially printed) copy from the Revenue Department.

2. Directorate Letter No. 972 / PM Kisan / 2022-23 dated 22-09-2022

This circular provides Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the verification of newly registered beneficiaries.

• Key Rejection Criterion: “If the records uploaded by the Tehsildar against the name of the farmer on Approval of Self Register Farmer in Direct Entry from Tehsil login (for which copy of Aadhaar and Khatauni is mandatory) have not been uploaded or are unreadable/unclear, then in such a case the data will be rejected.
  • Implication: A casual photocopy or an old, faded document is likely to be deemed “unclear” and rejected at the Tehsil level, necessitating the use of a fresh, officially printed, or certified copy of the Khatauni for successful approval.