PM Participates in ‘Paschimbanga Divas’, Releases ₹18,880-Crore PM-Kisan Instalment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday participated in the Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) celebrations at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district , using the occasion to unveil a wide-ranging package of agricultural, infrastructure and rural development initiatives aimed at strengthening farmer welfare and accelerating growth in West Bengal. The event, held under the theme “West Bengal: Heritage, Harmony and Development,” was attended by political leaders, public representatives, government officials and thousands of citizens. The venue also carries historical significance due to its association with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee .
A key highlight of the programme was the release of the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. Under the latest tranche, ₹18,880 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of more than 9.44 crore farmers across the country. Since the scheme’s launch in 2019, cumulative transfers under PM-KISAN have exceeded ₹4.46 lakh crore , making it one of the world’s largest direct income-support programmes for farmers.
West Bengal emerged as a major beneficiary of the latest instalment. More than 45 lakh farmers in the state are expected to receive over ₹900 crore , taking the cumulative PM-KISAN disbursement in the state to more than ₹15,000 crore . The scheme provides eligible farmer families with annual financial assistance through direct benefit transfers, helping strengthen rural livelihoods and agricultural sustainability.
In a significant move, the Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in West Bengal, extending the benefits of the world’s largest crop insurance programme to farmers in the state. During 2026-27 , the scheme is expected to provide insurance coverage to nearly 50 lakh farmers across about 14 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Crops worth an estimated ₹28,140 crore will be protected under the programme, with farmers receiving substantial premium subsidies. PMFBY, launched nationally in 2016, provides comprehensive coverage against crop losses caused by droughts, floods, pest attacks and other natural calamities.
The Prime Minister also launched AgriStack under the Digital Agriculture Mission , a major step towards digitising agricultural governance. The platform will integrate services such as fertilizer distribution, Kisan Credit Cards , direct benefit transfers and procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, creating a unified digital ecosystem for farmers.
Further strengthening the sustainability agenda, Modi rolled out the National Mission on Natural Farming in West Bengal. Under the approved action plan for 2026-27, the state will establish 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares , alongside Bio-Input Resource Centres and a network of Krishi Sakhis to promote eco-friendly and chemical-free farming practices.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) , a major agricultural development programme approved with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore . The scheme focuses on improving irrigation, crop diversification, post-harvest infrastructure and access to institutional credit, particularly in relatively underdeveloped districts.
Beyond agriculture, Modi dedicated and laid foundation stones for railway projects worth around ₹590 crore and inaugurated 49 road infrastructure projects developed under PMGSY-III , covering more than 315 kilometres across various districts of West Bengal. The projects are expected to improve rural connectivity, market access and economic opportunities.
The development push also extended to the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors, with projects aimed at modernising infrastructure and boosting rural incomes. Collectively, the initiatives signal the Centre’s effort to combine farmer welfare, digital agriculture, sustainable farming and infrastructure expansion into a comprehensive development strategy for West Bengal.