India Creates 11 Crore Farmer IDs Ahead of Schedule

The Government of India created 11 crore unique 11-digit Farmer IDs, known as Kisan Pehchaan Patra, by the night of October 23, 2026. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the milestone on October 24, noting that the target was reached five months ahead of the March 31, 2027, deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, the initiative is a core component of the Digital Agriculture Mission and the broader Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI 2.0) strategy. The system utilizes the AgriStack framework, which incorporates a Farmer Registry, Digital Crop Survey, and geo-referenced village maps. These digital identities streamline access to bank loans, crop insurance, disaster relief, and crop procurement at the Minimum Support Price by eliminating repeated paperwork and intermediaries.

More than 6 crore farmers have already received direct benefits through the system. The government is currently coordinating with state and union territory administrations to ensure the registry includes tenant farmers and actual cultivators to achieve comprehensive coverage. The rollout is part of the Viksit Bharat vision to modernize the agricultural sector through interoperability and AI-powered services.