About Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme

The **Kisan Credit Card (KCC)** scheme was introduced in 1998 by the Government of India, in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The primary objective of KCC is to provide comprehensive and timely credit support to farmers for their cultivation needs, post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loans, and other consumption requirements of farmer households.

Over the years, the scheme has been expanded to include investment credit for farm assets, working capital for allied activities like animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries, and even non-farming activities. KCC aims to free farmers from the clutches of informal money lenders by offering institutional credit at affordable interest rates.

Key Features and Benefits of KCC

Financial Support for Farmers' Diverse Needs

• Flexible and Timely Credit: Provides credit for short-term and long-term agricultural needs, ensuring funds are available when required.
• Low Interest Rates: KCC loans typically offer a concessional interest rate, often as low as 4% per annum, due to interest subvention (2%) and a prompt repayment incentive (3%) provided by the Government of India for loans up to ₹3 lakh.
• Collateral-Free Loans: Loans up to ₹1.60 lakh (recently increased to ₹2 lakh for some categories from Jan 1, 2025) are extended on a collateral-free basis, making credit accessible to small and marginal farmers.
• Coverage for Allied Activities: The scheme has been extended to cover working capital requirements for animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries.
• Insurance Coverage:
  • Eligible crops may be covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
  • Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and Health Insurance are also available for KCC holders.
• Revolving Cash Credit: KCC operates as a revolving cash credit facility, allowing farmers to draw and repay funds multiple times within the sanctioned limit for a period of 5 years, subject to annual review.
• Digital Access: KCCs are often issued as RuPay Debit Cards, enabling withdrawals from ATMs, Micro ATMs, and payments through PoS machines. Mobile banking and Aadhaar-enabled payments are also supported.
• No Minimum Balance: While not a savings account, the KCC account can have a credit balance on which interest is earned at savings bank rates.

Eligibility Criteria for KCC

Who Can Apply for a Kisan Credit Card?

The following individuals/groups are eligible to apply for a Kisan Credit Card:

• Farmers: Individual or joint borrowers who are owner cultivators.
• Tenant Farmers, Oral Lessees & Share Croppers: Individuals cultivating land owned by others.
• Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs): Groups of farmers, including tenant farmers and sharecroppers.
• Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Farmers: This includes fishers, fish farmers (individual/groups), SHGs, JLGs involved in inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries, poultry, and dairy.
• Age Limit: Minimum age of 18 years and maximum age of 75 years. For borrowers above 60 years, a co-borrower (legal heir/immediate family member) below 60 years is mandatory.

The quantum of credit is determined based on the scale of finance for the crop, extent of cultivated area, and other requirements like post-harvest expenses and maintenance of farm assets.

Application Process for KCC

Steps to Obtain Your Kisan Credit Card

Farmers can apply for KCC through various banks (Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks, Private Sector Banks) that offer the scheme. The process can be offline or, increasingly, online.

Offline Application:

1. Visit a Bank Branch: Approach your preferred bank branch (e.g., SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda).
2. Obtain Application Form: Request the Kisan Credit Card application form.
3. Fill the Form: Carefully fill out the application form with all required personal, landholding, and cropping pattern details.
4. Attach Documents: Submit the duly filled form along with the necessary documents.
5. Submission & Verification: Submit the application to a bank official. The bank will verify the details and documents.
6. Sanction & Issuance: Upon approval, the KCC limit will be set, and the card will be issued to the farmer.

Online Application (where available, e.g., through JanSamarth portal or bank-specific portals):

1. Visit the Online Portal: Some banks or government platforms like JanSamarth (jansamarth.in/kisan-credit-card-scheme) allow online application.
2. Download Form: Download the KCC application form from the bank's official website or the JanSamarth portal.
3. Fill & Upload: Fill the form accurately, attach scanned copies of required documents, and upload them.
4. Submission: Submit the online application. An application reference number will be provided.
5. Follow-up: The bank will contact you for further verification and processing.

Required Documents for KCC Application

Essential Papers for Your Application

• Duly filled KCC Application Form.
• Passport-sized Photographs (2 copies).
• Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID Card, Driving License, Passport, etc. (Any one).
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Utility Bills (not more than 3 months old), etc. (Any one).
• Proof of Landholding: Land records/ownership documents certified by revenue authorities.
• Cropping Pattern: Details of crops cultivated and acreage.
• Security Documents: For loans above the collateral-free limit (currently ₹1.60 lakh or ₹2 lakh for some categories), mortgage of land or third-party guarantee may be required.
• Any other document as per the bank's specific requirements.

Important Contacts and Resources

Support and Official Information

• JanSamarth Portal (for KCC): jansamarth.in/kisan-credit-card-scheme - A national portal for various government schemes, including KCC.
• mKisan Portal (About KCC): mkisan.gov.in/Alpha/aboutkcc.aspx - Provides information on KCC features and implementation.
• Department of Fisheries (for Fisheries KCC): dof.gov.in/fisherieskcc
• Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (for AHDF KCC): dahd.gov.in/division/kcc
• Kisan Credit Card Helpline Numbers:
  • Toll-Free: 1800-115-526
  • Tolled: 0120-6025109 / 155261
  • Email: pmkisan-ict@gov.in
• Bank-Specific Customer Care: Contact your chosen bank's customer care for specific queries related to their KCC product.

The KCC scheme is a vital tool for empowering farmers, ensuring their access to timely and affordable credit, and supporting the growth of the agricultural sector in India.