NABARD Grade A Current Affairs — 29 April 2026

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme launched in 1998 provides single-window credit facility to farmers for cultivation needs, post-harvest expenses, and allied activities. Revised scheme launched December 18, 2020 under PM Modi targets 2.5 crore farmers with Rs. 2 lakh crore credit boost. Covers owner cultivators, tenant farmers, share croppers, SHGs through commercial banks, RRBs, cooperatives. Provides RuPay ATM facility, flexible limits from Rs. 10,000-50,000 for marginal farmers. Major milestone achieved: 1.5 crore farmers covered with Rs. 1.35 lakh crore sanctioned credit.

KCC represents India's flagship agricultural credit delivery mechanism, addressing the critical gap between formal banking and farmer financing needs. The scheme's evolution from a simple credit card in 1998 to a comprehensive financial ecosystem reflects India's agricultural modernization strategy. Its single-window approach eliminates multiple applications across different credit types, reducing transaction costs and bureaucratic delays. The 2020 revision under Atmanirbhar Bharat demonstrates government priority on agricultural self-reliance, particularly post-COVID economic recovery. KCC's inclusion of tenant farmers and share croppers addresses historical exclusion of vulnerable farming communities from formal credit. The RuPay integration enables digital transactions in rural areas, supporting financial inclusion goals. Credit limits are scientifically calculated based on District Level Technical Committee recommendations, ensuring realistic financing aligned with local cropping patterns. The scheme's success in covering 1.5 crore farmers with Rs. 1.35 lakh crore credit indicates its institutional strength and farmer acceptance. For NABARD, KCC represents the operationalization of agricultural development philosophy - linking credit with productivity enhancement rather than mere subsidy distribution.