Krishak Bandhu in West Bengal: Assured Income, 2026 Rule Changes and How to Apply
What the cultivation assistance pays, how the rates are reported to have changed after May 2026, who qualifies, and how to apply or verify.
01What Krishak Bandhu (Assured Income) Is
Krishak Bandhu (the current version is called Krishak Bandhu Natun) is the West Bengal government’s cultivation assistance scheme. It was launched in 2019 and pays farmers and recorded sharecroppers (bargadars) twice a year, in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, directly into a bank account.
02Rates: What Is Official and What Is Reported
| Period | Amount per year | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 (original) | ₹5,000 per acre, with a minimum of ₹2,000 | Government order, as reported |
| Since 2021 revision | Up to ₹10,000 for one acre or more; a minimum of ₹4,000 for smaller holdings | Official portal and news reports |
| Reported after May 2026 | ₹6,000 for larger holdings and ₹4,000 for smaller ones, with the dividing line reported at about 40 decimals | News reports of September 2026 |
03Rule Changes Reported in 2026
- One beneficiary per family
- A farmer is reported to receive either Krishak Bandhu or PM-KISAN, not both, with a state top-up of ₹3,000 on the central ₹6,000 also reported. The details of this link were not confirmed.
- Removal of fake beneficiaries, income-tax payers and government employees
- A fresh verification drive: existing beneficiaries are reported to submit a paper form (Annexure-I) at the block office, and the next instalment is reported to go only to farmers cleared by the check
04Who Qualifies
- A West Bengal resident with cultivable land shown in the Record of Rights (RoR), a patta, or a recorded bargadar (Barga) entry
- Farmers without an RoR could earlier give a self-declaration, which the Block Land and Land Reforms Officer verifies. If the check contradicts the declaration, enrolment can be cancelled and the money recovered.
05Documents
- RoR or Barga record
- Voter ID card (the main identity document in the scheme’s procedure)
- Bank passbook copy or a cancelled cheque
- Active mobile number
- Aadhaar, which was optional under the 2021 procedure
06How to Apply
- Go to the block office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture, in the block where the voter ID is registered. A Bangla Sahayata Kendra can help with pre-registration.
- The block enters the application in the Krishak Bandhu app and gives an acknowledgement ID.
- A verification officer checks the documents.
- On approval, a Krishak Bandhu ID (KBID) is generated and an SMS is sent to the farmer.
Payment is made by direct transfer to the bank account through the West Bengal State Co-operative Bank.
07Landless Agricultural Workers
The official portal also hosts a procedure for agricultural workers without land, giving ₹4,000 a year in two instalments of ₹2,000. It was announced in the 2026-27 State Budget. Its status after the change of government is not known.
08Official Links
Use only the portal ending in wb.gov.in. A website with a similar name (krishakbandhu.net) is not the government portal.
09Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Krishak Bandhu pay now?
The ₹10,000 maximum applied from 2021. Reports from September 2026 say ₹4,000 to ₹6,000, but no order was found. The block agriculture office can confirm the current amount.
Can a bargadar get Krishak Bandhu?
Yes, recorded bargadars with a Barga entry are eligible. The rules for unrecorded sharecroppers in 2026 were not found.
Can a farmer get both Krishak Bandhu and PM-KISAN?
Reports say the two are being treated as either-or, with an extra state amount on PM-KISAN. This was not confirmed in an official order.
Where does the money come from?
It is paid by direct transfer to the bank account after the application is approved at the block.
This page is updated periodically. Benefit amounts, limits, dates and portal menus change; for the most current and binding information, always refer to the official portal or the implementing office.