Kisan Credit Card 2026: ₹3 Lakh Limit, Interest Subvention & Apply

किसान क्रेडिट कार्ड 2026: पात्रता, ब्याज दर और आवेदन

Quick facts: Revolving credit for farmers up to ₹3 lakh without collateral · effective interest 4% p.a. with full interest subvention (if repaid on time) · covers crop loan + post-harvest + household · 5-year validity, auto-renewable · apply at any bank or co-op society.

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC), launched in 1998, is the backbone of Indian farm finance. Over 7.5 crore KCCs are active in 2026, with a combined credit outstanding above ₹8 lakh crore. For any Indian farmer (landowner, tenant, sharecropper, livestock keeper, fisher), KCC is the cheapest institutional credit available — way below the 24-36% interest charged by village moneylenders. When repaid on time, effective interest drops to just 4% per annum thanks to government interest subvention.

KCC क्या कवर करता है — What Credit Is For

KCC is a revolving credit line — use what you need, repay, borrow again. Covers:

Short-term crop loan — for inputs (seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, labour, fuel)
Post-harvest expenses — storage, transportation, marketing
Produce marketing loan — holding produce for better prices
Consumption needs — household expenses (up to a sub-limit within total)
Farm maintenance — minor irrigation, equipment repair
Allied activities — since 2019 extension: livestock, poultry, fisheries (with separate sub-limit structure)

What it does NOT cover

Long-term investments (e.g., buying a tractor) — these go to term loans, not KCC
Non-farm business (use PM Mudra or PM Vishwakarma)
Speculative trading

पात्रता — Who Qualifies

Individual / joint farmers

Owner-cultivators with land records in their name
Tenant farmers / sharecroppers with a valid lease
SHG/JLG members (Self-Help Groups / Joint Liability Groups)
Livestock keepers, fisheries owners (KCC-AH&F since 2019)

Land requirements

Any cultivable land — even very small holdings (0.1 hectare+) qualify
Digital land records + Aadhaar mandatory for most banks

Excluded

Defaulters on existing agricultural loans
Farmers in areas notified by state as unviable for farming
Landless labourers not part of SHG/JLG

KCC कितना मिलेगा — How Much Credit

The limit depends on:

Scale of finance (notified per crop per hectare by the State Level Bankers Committee, SLBC)
Land size (in hectares or acres)
Crop pattern (Kharif + Rabi combined)
Allied activities (if applicable)

Collateral-free slabs

Up to ₹2 lakh — fully collateral-free (CGS coverage)
₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh — collateral-free for KCC (extended limit by RBI in 2023)
Above ₹3 lakh — may require collateral depending on bank risk appetite

PM-Kisan beneficiaries: can directly get KCC via PM-Kisan portal integration with minimal paperwork.

ब्याज दर और सब्सिडी — Interest Rate and Subvention

Here’s how ₹3 lakh at “4%” actually works:

Component	Rate
Bank’s base interest rate	9% p.a.
Government interest subvention (on ₹3 lakh limit)	-2%
Effective rate for farmer (regular)	7% p.a.
Additional prompt-repayment incentive (repay within due date)	-3%
Effective rate for farmer who repays on time	4% p.a.

Catch: subvention applies only on first ₹3 lakh. Beyond that, bank’s standard rate (~9%) applies. Pay on time and you save ~5% annually.

आवश्यक दस्तावेज़ — Documents Required

For fresh KCC

Aadhaar card
Land records — Khasra / Khatauni / 7-12 / Patta / RTC (proves ownership or cultivation)
Bank passbook in applicant’s name
Passport-size photographs (2-3)
Crop pattern declaration (what you grow in Kharif + Rabi)
Income-tax non-payer declaration (to claim subvention)

For KCC-AH&F (livestock/fishery)

Livestock ownership proof OR
Fishery lease/licence + operational proof

आवेदन कैसे करें — How to Apply

Option 1: PM-Kisan integrated KCC (fastest)

Open https://pmkisan.gov.in → “KCC Apply” link
Select your preferred bank from empanelled list
Fill simplified 1-page form (land already pre-fetched from PM-Kisan)
Submit → bank contacts you within 7 days
KCC sanctioned in 14-30 days

Option 2: Directly at bank branch

Visit your PSU/RRB/co-op bank or preferred private bank
Collect KCC application form
Fill + attach land records, photos, crop plan
Submit → bank does field inspection (usually 7-15 days)
Sanction letter issued; sign loan agreement
KCC card issued; linked savings account activated for withdrawals

Option 3: Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS)

For small/marginal farmers in most states, PACS are often the most accessible: 1. Visit your village PACS 2. Become a member (nominal fee) 3. Apply for KCC through the society 4. PACS routes to the District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB)

Timeline

Application to sanction: 14-30 days (PSU/private banks)
PACS route: 21-45 days
KCC card delivery: 10-15 days after sanction

KCC Card — How to Use

RuPay KCC debit card — use at ATMs, POS, or micro-ATMs
Cheque book provided on request
Withdraw for agri inputs → revolves as you repay
Repayment typically aligns with crop harvest cycle (6-12 months)
Auto-renewed every 5 years on satisfactory conduct

Renewal and Increase in Limit

5-year validity on initial sanction
Annual review by bank — limit revised based on scale of finance updates
Increase limit: request in writing with revised crop plan / expanded land

हेल्पलाइन — Official Helpline

Service	Number
PM-KISAN Helpline	155261
KCC / Agri-loan helpline	Bank-specific (SBI: 1800-11-2211, PNB: 1800-180-2222)
NABARD	022-26539895
Portal	https://pmkisan.gov.in

FAQ — Common Questions

Is KCC only for owner-farmers? No. Since the 2019 extension, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, SHG members, and livestock/fishery operators are all eligible. Valid documentation is required to prove cultivation or operational status.

Why is my effective rate 4% and not 9%? Two subsidies stack: the Interest Subvention Scheme reduces rate from 9% to 7%, and the Prompt Repayment Incentive subtracts another 3%, bringing effective rate to 4% — but only if you repay on time.

What happens if I miss the repayment date? You lose the 3% prompt-repayment incentive for that cycle. Additionally, after 90 days of non-payment, the loan is flagged NPA and the subvention may be withdrawn retrospectively.

Can my KCC loan be waived under loan-waiver schemes? State loan-waiver schemes apply to KCC outstanding. Eligibility depends on your state’s announced criteria (typically land-size + category-based).

Is the ₹3 lakh really collateral-free? Yes — RBI mandated collateral-free KCC up to ₹3 lakh (previously ₹1.6 lakh, raised in 2023). Banks cannot demand security within this limit.

Can a PM-Kisan beneficiary directly get KCC? Yes. Under the PM-Kisan Saturation Drive, KCC applications from PM-Kisan beneficiaries are fast-tracked with simplified documentation.

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Last verified: 20 April 2026. Official source: https://pmkisan.gov.in · https://www.nabard.org