Kisan Credit Card 2026 — Apply Online for ₹3 Lakh Loan at 4% Interest
Kisan Credit Card 2026: Get up to ₹3 lakh crop loan at 4% effective interest. Eligibility, documents, online + offline apply, and bank-wise interest rates.
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Quick summary. The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) is a short-term agricultural loan scheme. Farmers get a credit limit of up to ₹3 lakh for crop production, allied activities, and household needs at an effective interest rate of just 4 percent per annum (after 2% government subvention + 3% prompt-repayment incentive). Apply mode: Online via the PM Kisan portal or offline at any commercial bank, RRB, or cooperative bank.
The Kisan Credit Card was introduced in 1998 and is the single most-used agricultural credit instrument in India — over 7.5 crore active KCCs as of latest RBI data, with a combined outstanding of nearly ₹10 lakh crore. The card is officially issued for 5 years and the limit is reviewed annually based on crop pattern and land holding. From 2020, the PM Kisan–KCC Saturation Drive simplified the application — if you’re already a PM Kisan beneficiary, you can get a KCC in one visit to your bank with just three documents.
Scheme at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Kisan Credit Card (KCC) |
| Launched by | NABARD + RBI, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture |
| Launched | August 1998 |
| Loan limit | Up to ₹3 lakh per farmer (crop loan track) |
| Effective interest | 4% per annum (after 2% subvention + 3% timely-repayment incentive) |
| Validity | 5 years (limit reviewed annually) |
| Eligible | All farmers — owner, tenant, share-cropper, oral lessee, SHG, JLG |
| Apply mode | Online + Offline |
| Official portal | pmkisan.gov.in/KCC.aspx |
Who is eligible for a Kisan Credit Card?
Educational Qualification
Not applicable
Age Limit (As on Date of application)
18 to 75 Years
Other Requirements
- Nationality: Indian citizen
- Must be engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, or fisheries
- Owner-cultivator: must own cultivable land (any size)
- Tenant farmer / oral lessee / share-cropper: must produce a crop-cultivation certificate from the patwari OR a tenancy agreement
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers are also eligible
- Animal husbandry / fisheries: separate working-capital limit, no land requirement
- Co-applicants aged 60+ need a younger legal heir as joint applicant for limits above ₹1 lakh
In simple terms. Any Indian farmer aged 18–75 — whether you own the land, lease it, or work on someone else’s plot — can get a KCC. If you’re already a PM Kisan beneficiary, the application is fast-tracked and most documents are pre-verified.
What is the KCC interest rate breakup?
| Component | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bank’s standard farm-loan rate | 9.0% | The headline rate quoted on the application |
| Less: Interest subvention (Govt) | – 2.0% | Auto-credited if loan ≤ ₹3 lakh and repaid within 12 months |
| Less: Prompt repayment incentive (PRI) | – 3.0% | Credited only if you repay on or before the due date |
| Effective rate for prompt-paying farmers | 4.0% | One of the lowest farm credit rates in the world |
The first ₹1.6 lakh of the credit limit is collateral-free — no land mortgage, no third-party guarantee. Limits above ₹1.6 lakh require a hypothecation of the standing crop and, in some banks, a mortgage of the land paper.
The PRI of 3% is forfeited if you miss even one due date — the loan automatically reverts to the bank’s standard 9% rate. This is the biggest financial mistake farmers make on KCC. Set a calendar reminder a week before each due date.
What documents are required?
While filling online form
- Aadhaar card (linked to mobile number for OTP)
- PAN card (mandatory for limits above ₹50,000)
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Land ownership document — Khasra / Khatauni / 7-12 / Patta (original + photocopy)
- OR for tenants: notarised tenancy agreement OR cultivation certificate from patwari (valid 6 months)
- Bank passbook of the farmer's existing savings account (or open one at the same bank during application)
- Active mobile number
If you’re a PM Kisan beneficiary, your land record + Aadhaar are already verified — KCC applications are processed in 14 days under the Saturation Drive vs 4–6 weeks for non-PM-Kisan applicants. Always carry your PM Kisan registration ID along with the Aadhaar.
How to apply for a Kisan Credit Card
Method 1 — Apply online via PM Kisan portal (PM Kisan beneficiaries)
- Visit pmkisan.gov.in/KCC.aspx.
- Click KCC Application Form (PDF) and download.
- Print the form, fill it (most fields are pre-populated from your PM Kisan record).
- Take it to your nearest bank branch (any commercial bank, RRB, or cooperative — you can choose).
- Submit along with the documents listed above.
- The bank manager will assign a field officer who visits your land within 14 days.
- Card is issued within 14 days of field verification — total cycle ~30 days.
⏰ Last Date: Open (rolling applications — no deadline)
Download KCC application formClicking this button will take you to the official government portal.
Method 2 — Apply offline at any bank branch
- Walk into any public-sector bank (SBI, PNB, BoB), RRB (Regional Rural Bank), or District Cooperative Bank branch.
- Ask for the KCC application form (Form 1A — it’s free).
- Fill the form with help from the bank staff (most branches have a KCC desk).
- Submit with originals + photocopies of every document listed above.
- The branch manager forwards the file to the field officer for verification.
- Field officer visits your land within 30 days; card is issued within 45 days from application date.
Public-sector banks process KCC applications in 30–45 days; cooperative banks are typically faster (15–25 days) but offer slightly lower limits. RRBs often process the fastest in semi-urban areas.
How to check KCC application status
- Visit your bank’s online portal (each bank has a different KCC tracker — check your bank’s website).
- Or call the branch directly with your application reference number — branch officers can check the file status instantly.
- PM Kisan beneficiaries can also check via pmkisan.gov.in → Beneficiary status → KCC tab.
If your application is stuck or rejected, the most common reasons:
| Reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| Land record name doesn’t match Aadhaar | Get a correction from the patwari (mutation entry) — takes 30–60 days |
| Existing default on another agricultural loan | Settle or restructure the existing loan first; CIBIL is not used but the bank’s internal record is checked |
| Land is jointly held and other owners haven’t signed | All adult co-owners must sign — can be done at the bank with a power of attorney for minors |
| Crop area below the threshold | Each bank has a minimum-cultivable-area requirement (typically 0.4 acre) — switch to allied activities track if you’re below |
| Branch hasn’t visited the field | Politely follow up — under the KCC Saturation Drive, banks have a 14-day SLA |
Latest updates on KCC
The 2024 budget extended the KCC interest subvention scheme through 2025–26 with a ₹22,600 crore allocation. The credit limit for animal husbandry and fisheries under KCC was raised to ₹2 lakh in 2024 to encourage diversification beyond crop loans. The PM Kisan KCC Saturation Drive (running since 2020) has issued 3.7 crore new KCCs — the largest farmer-credit expansion in India’s history.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who is eligible for a Kisan Credit Card?
2. What is the maximum loan amount under KCC?
3. What is the actual interest rate I'll pay?
4. Is collateral required for KCC?
5. How long does it take to get a KCC?
6. Can tenant farmers apply for KCC?
7. Can I use KCC for non-farming expenses?
8. What is the validity of a Kisan Credit Card?
Official links
Disclaimer. SarkariBaba is an independent information publisher. KCC interest rates and subvention amounts are revised periodically — always confirm the current rate with your bank branch before signing the loan agreement. We do not process loan applications.
