§1Who it is for
- Owner cultivators, tenant farmers, oral lessees, sharecroppers
- SHGs/JLGs of farmers
Useful if
Any farmer, fisher or livestock farmer needing short-term crop or working capital credit
Do not spend time on it if
Non-farm businesses with no farm activity
§2Eligibility
- Farmers - individual/joint borrowers who are owner cultivators
- Tenant farmers, oral lessees & share croppers
- Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers including tenant farmers, share croppers etc
§3Benefits
Fixation of credit limit/Loan amount
- The short-term limit to arrive for the first year: For farmers raising a single crop in a year: Scale of finance for the crop (as decided by District Level Technical Committee) x Extent of area cultivated + 10% of limit towards post-harvest / household/consumption requirements + 20% of limit towards repairs and maintenance expenses of farm assets + crop insurance, PAIS & asset insurance.
- Limit for second & subsequent year: First-year limit for crop cultivation purposes arrived at as above plus 10% of the limit towards cost escalation/increase in the scale of finance for every successive year ( 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year) and estimated Term loan component for the tenure of Kisan Credit Card, i.e., five years.
- For farmers raising more than one crop in a year, the limit is to be fixed as above depending upon the crops cultivated as per the proposed cropping pattern for the first year and an additional 10% of the limit towards cost escalation/increase in the scale of finance for every successive year (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year). It is assumed that the farmer adopts the same cropping pattern for the remaining four years also. In case the cropping pattern adopted by the farmer is changed in the subsequent year, the limit may be reworked.
- Term loans for investments towards land development, minor irrigation, purchase of farm equipment and allied agricultural activities. The banks may fix the quantum of credit for the term and working capital limit for agricultural and allied activities, etc., based on the unit cost of the asset/s proposed to be acquired by the farmer, the allied activities already being undertaken on the farm, the bank’s judgment on repayment capacity vis-a-vis total loan burden devolving on the farmer, including existing loan obligations.
- The long-term loan limit is based on the proposed investments during the five-year period and the bank’s perception of the repaying capacity of the farmer
- Maximum Permissible Limit: The short-term loan limit arrived for the 5th year plus the estimated long-term loan requirement will be the Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) and treated as the Kisan Credit Card Limit.
- Fixation of Sub-limits for other than Marginal Farmers
- Short-term loans and term loans are governed by different interest rates. Besides, at present, short-term crop loans are covered under Interest Subvention Scheme/ Prompt Repayment Incentive scheme. Further, repayment schedules and norms are different for short-term and term loans. Hence, in order to have operational and accounting convenience, the card limit is to be bifurcated into separate sub-limits for short-term cash credit limit cum savings account and term loans.
- The drawing limit for short-term cash credit should be fixed based on the cropping pattern and the amounts for crop production, repairs and maintenance of farm assets and consumption may be allowed to be drawn at the convenience of the farmer. In case the revision of the scale of finance for any year by the district-level committee exceeds the notional hike of 10% contemplated while fixing the five-year limit, a revised drawable limit may be fixed and the farmer is advised about the same.
- Wherever the card limit/liability so arrived warrants additional security, the banks may take suitable collateral as per their policy.
§4Norms — pattern of assistance
- The KCC Scheme was introduced with the objective of providing adequate and timely credit to the farmers for their agricultural operations. The Government of India provides interest subvention of 2% and Prompt Repayment Incentive of 3% to the farmers, thus making the credit available at a very subsidized rate of 4% per annum.
Fixation of credit limit/Loan amount
- The short-term limit to arrive for the first year: For farmers raising a single crop in a year: Scale of finance for the crop (as decided by District Level Technical Committee) x Extent of area cultivated + 10% of limit towards post-harvest / household/consumption requirements + 20% of limit towards repairs and maintenance expenses of farm assets + crop insurance, PAIS & asset insurance.
- Limit for second & subsequent year: First-year limit for crop cultivation purposes arrived at as above plus 10% of the limit towards cost escalation/increase in the scale of finance for every successive year ( 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year) and estimated Term loan component for the tenure of Kisan Credit Card, i.e., five years.
- For farmers raising more than one crop in a year, the limit is to be fixed as above depending upon the crops cultivated as per the proposed cropping pattern for the first year and an additional 10% of the limit towards cost escalation/increase in the scale of finance for every successive year (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year). It is assumed that the farmer adopts the same cropping pattern for the remaining four years also. In case the cropping pattern adopted by the farmer is changed in the subsequent year, the limit may be reworked.
- Maximum Permissible Limit: The short-term loan limit arrived for the 5th year plus the estimated long-term loan requirement will be the Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) and treated as the Kisan Credit Card Limit.
- The drawing limit for short-term cash credit should be fixed based on the cropping pattern and the amounts for crop production, repairs and maintenance of farm assets and consumption may be allowed to be drawn at the convenience of the farmer. In case the revision of the scale of finance for any year by the district-level committee exceeds the notional hike of 10% contemplated while fixing the five-year limit, a revised drawable limit may be fixed and the farmer is advised about the same.
§5Documents
Tick each one as you get it ready.
§6How to apply
- 1
[Online] Visit the website of the bank you wish to apply for the kisan credit card scheme.
- 2
From the list of options, choose the Kisan Credit Card.
- 3
On clicking the option of ‘Apply’, the website will redirect you to the application page.
- 4
Fill the form with the required details and click on ‘Submit’.
- 5
On doing so, an application reference number will be sent. If you are eligible, the bank will get back to you for the further process within 3-4 working days.
- 6
[Offline] Offline applications can be done by visiting the branch of the bank of your choice or by downloading the application form from the website of the bank as well.
- 7
The applicant can visit the branch and begin the application process with the help of the bank representative.
§7Pros and cons
Merits
- Interest subvention 2% plus prompt repayment incentive 3% makes effective rate 4% p.a. (as printed)
- One card covers crop, post-harvest, consumption and farm asset maintenance needs
Demerits
- Limit depends on district scale of finance fixed by the District Level Technical Committee
- The 4% rate depends on prompt repayment
→Related schemes
Need help with KCC?
Eligibility check, DPR and application file — ask us on WhatsApp.
Our interestHelp is our paid service. You can also apply for the scheme yourself.
¶Sources
Checked on 18 October 2026. For information only — confirm with the department or bank. Spotted a mistake? Report it.
