SRINAGAR: The total outstanding loans under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme in Jammu and Kashmir have climbed to Rs 8,056 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26, marking an increase of nearly 28 per cent over the past five years. The figures, which stood at Rs 6,291 crore in 2021-22, were presented before the Lok Sabha on Monday by the Ministry of Finance.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating a consistent upward trend in KCC loan outstandings within Jammu and Kashmir. The data, compiled from submissions by the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD, shows the outstanding amount rose from Rs 6,291 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 6,363 crore in 2022-23, further increasing to Rs 6,974 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 7,379 crore in 2024-25, culminating in the Rs 8,056 crore figure for 2025-26.
Nationally, the central government has facilitated KCC issuance through the Jan Samarth Portal in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, with a pilot program underway in Uttar Pradesh. However, this portal-based facility has not yet been extended to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Ministry of Finance also reported that funds disbursed under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), covering interest subvention and prompt repayment incentives, amounted to Rs 18,366.80 crore in 2025-26. This figure represents a decrease from the Rs 21,476.93 crore disbursed in 2021-22. Annual disbursements under the MISS were recorded at Rs 17,997.88 crore in 2022-23, Rs 14,251.92 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 17,811.72 crore in 2024-25.
In a significant development announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, the central government increased the KCC loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. This enhancement aims to provide greater financial support to farmers.
Despite the absence of the Jan Samarth-based KCC facility in Jammu and Kashmir, the latest data underscores a substantial expansion in the region’s KCC credit exposure. This growth occurs in a national context where the scheme plays a vital role in supporting agricultural credit and rural economies.
The Kisan Credit Card scheme, introduced in 1998, is a Government of India initiative to provide institutional credit to farmers. It aims to meet the working capital requirements of agriculture and its allied activities, making credit easily accessible and affordable. The scheme has evolved over the years to include features like increased credit limits and simplified application processes.
The ongoing increase in outstanding KCC loans in Jammu and Kashmir suggests a growing reliance on this credit instrument by the farming community in the region for their financial needs. The Centre’s focus on agricultural credit, as evidenced by the KCC scheme and the MISS, continues to be a key component of its rural development and economic policies, although the implementation and accessibility of digital platforms like Jan Samarth may vary across different Union Territories and states.
The Ministry of Finance’s data submission to Parliament highlights the dynamic nature of agricultural finance and the central government’s efforts to monitor and support credit flows to the sector. The consistent rise in outstandings in Jammu and Kashmir indicates a sustained demand for credit, while the national-level policy initiatives aim to further strengthen the agricultural credit system across the country.
The modifications to the KCC scheme, including the increased loan limit, are intended to bolster the financial resilience of farmers, enabling them to undertake necessary investments in their farms and manage unforeseen expenses. The trend in Jammu and Kashmir will continue to be closely observed in light of national agricultural credit strategies.
The Chenab Times News Desk