How to apply for Kisan Credit Card
Posted on February 27, 2026
The Kisan Credit Card is one of the best schemes introduced to provide timely credits to farmers for their agricultural operations. In this scheme, the government of India provides an interest subvention of 2% and a prompt repayment incentive of 3% to the farmers, thus making credit available at the subsidized rate of 4% per annum.
The Kisan Credit Card Scheme focuses on providing accurate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedures, such as
– Investment credit requirement for allied activities and agriculture.
– Consumption requirements of farmer households.
– Produce marketing loan.
– Post-harvest expenses.
– Working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture.
– To meet short-term credit requirements for the cultivation of crops.
Type of Card:
The card is a magnetic stripe card with a PIN and an International Standards Organization International Identification number, which allows access to all banks’ ATMs and micro ATMs.
A debit card with magnetic strips and only biometric authentication can be provided, depending on the customer base of the bank. Till such time as UIDAI becomes widespread, if the banks want to get started, they can use their existing centralized biometric infrastructure.
Banks may choose to issue EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and VISA), a global standard for the interoperability of integrated and RUPAY-compliant chip cards with magnetic stripe and PIN with ISO IIN.
Further, smart cards and biometric authentication may follow the same standards prescribed by IDRBT and IBA, which helps to transact seamlessly with input dealers and enables them to proceed with sales credited to their accounts when they sell their output at procurement centers.
What is the purpose of the Kisan Credit Card Scheme?
Some of the main purposes of Kisan Credit Card schemes are as follows:
– To meet working capital requirements for activities such as dairy, poultry, mushroom, sericulture, etc.
– To meet the consumption requirements of the farmers’ households.
– Produce a marketing loan.
– To meet the working capital needs or requirements of medium- or long-duration crops such as horticultural flowers, fruits, spices, plantation crops, and medicinal plants.
– To meet the short-term credit requirements for cultivating crops, including seasonal horticultural vegetable crops.
Delivery Channels:
The following delivery channels shall be put in place to start with, so that the Kisan Credit Card is used by farmers to transact their operations in the KCC account:
– Aadhaar-enabled cards
– Mobile banking with IMPS capabilities.
– PoS machine through input dealers.
– Withdrawal through BCs using smart cards.
– Withdrawal through micro ATMs or ATMs.
– Eligibility for Kisan Credit Card:
– Self-help groups or joint liability groups of farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers.
– Tenant farmers, oral lessees, and sharecroppers.
Applications for Kisan Credit Card
Offline:
Offline applications are usually done by visiting the branch of the bank of your choice or by downloading the application form from the website of the bank.
The applicant can visit the branch and begin the application process with the help of a bank representative.
Online:
– Visit the website of the bank and apply for the Kisan Credit Card Scheme.
– From the list, choose Kisan Credit Card.
– Click on the option of “Apply”; the website will redirect you to the application page.
– Fill out the form with the required details and click on Submit.
On doing so, an application reference number will be sent. If you are eligible, the bank will get back to you for further processing within 3-4 working days.
Documents Required:
Some of the major documents required are as follows:
– Application form.
– Two passport-size photographs.
– ID proof such as Aadhar card/voter identity card/passport.
– Address proof, such as an Aadhar card and a driving license.
– Proof of landholding, duly certified by revenue authorities.
– Cropping pattern with acreage.
– Security documents for a loan limit above Rs 1.60 lakhs/Rs 3.00 lakhs, as applicable.
– Any other document as per the sanction.
Conclusion:
With the changes in the agricultural field, Kisan Credit Cards are important for all farmers, which could further help in economic development and rural development. The farmers can use KCC to purchase different agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides.
In budget 2025-26 it was announced that the Modified Interest Subvention Schemes variant offers 7% interest for short-term agriculture loans up to Rs 5 lakh through KCC, which also covers different activities such as dairy, animal husbandry, and fisheries.
Read more such agriculture guides and updates on AgriWorldView.