Apply for a Kisan Credit Card to access short-term agricultural credit at a subsidised 4% interest rate.
Jurisdiction
All of India — KCC is issued by scheduled commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), cooperative banks, and Small Finance Banks; the scheme is governed by NABARD guidelines and RBI master directions; applicable across all states and union territories for farmers with agricultural land
Who applies
Farmers (individual, joint, or tenant/sharecroppers) engaged in crop cultivation, allied activities (animal husbandry, fisheries), or agro-processing who need short-term credit for agricultural inputs; small and marginal farmers and tenant farmers/oral lessees are explicitly covered under the scheme
Typical time
Application to card issuance: 14–30 working days for new applications at most banks; some banks offer in-branch same-day processing at KCC camps/melas organised by NABARD and the state agriculture department
Fee
No application fee charged under scheme guidelines; documentation charges: ₹50–₹300 (varies by bank); stamp duty on loan documents: as per state stamp act (typically ₹100–₹500); KCC card issuance fee: nil to ₹100; interest rate: 4% per annum for crop loans up to ₹3 lakh with interest subvention (7% card rate minus 3% prompt repayment incentive); for amounts above ₹3 lakh, interest is at bank's base rate / MCLR
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aadhaar Card | Original | Mandatory KYC document for identity verification; also required for Aadhaar-seeding of the KCC account to enable DBT benefits and PM-KISAN linkage |
| 2 | Land ownership or tenancy document | Self-attested Copy | Proof of agricultural land holding; accepted documents: RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops) / Pahani / 7/12 extract from state land records, registered lease deed, or certificate from gram panchayat/sarpanch for tenant/sharecroppers |
| 3 | Recent passport-size photographs (2 copies) | Original | For the KCC card and loan account documentation; must be recent colour photographs |
| 4 | Bank account passbook or existing account details | Original | KCC is typically issued as a revolving credit facility linked to the farmer's existing savings/current account at the bank; passbook required for account linkage; new customers may open an account simultaneously |
| 5 | Crop sowing declaration or crop plan (for the current season)(optional)Required at some banks for the initial credit limit fixation; may be replaced by revenue records showing crop history | Self-attested Copy | Declaration by the farmer of intended crops, acreage, and season (Kharif/Rabi); used by the bank to calculate the scale of finance and credit limit |
| 6 | No Dues Certificate (NDC) from other banks or cooperative societies(optional)Required if the farmer has or previously had an agricultural loan at another institution | Original | Confirms the applicant has no outstanding agricultural loan at another institution; prevents double financing of the same crop / land; some banks waive this for small loans |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
Approach the nearest branch of any scheduled commercial bank, RRB, or cooperative bank — preferably where you already hold a savings account. Ask for the KCC application form. Banks with tie-ups with the state agriculture department may have dedicated KCC counters or organise KCC camps at the gram panchayat level — enquire about upcoming camps to avoid multiple visits.
Complete the KCC application form with personal details, crop details (type, acreage, season), land details (survey number, taluka, district), and bank account details. Attach self-attested copies of Aadhaar, land records, and photographs. For tenant farmers, include the gram panchayat certificate. Some banks allow online application via internet banking / mobile app for existing account holders.
The bank's Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) or field officer visits the farm to verify the landholding, crop, and the farmer's identity. The officer checks land records against the application and assesses the scale of finance for the specific crops in the district (scale fixed annually by the District Level Technical Committee / DLTC). The credit limit is calculated as: (Scale of Finance × Land Acreage) + Post-Harvest / Household Consumption + 10% contingency + Allied Activity component.
The field officer submits the inspection report and credit appraisal to the branch manager for sanction. The branch manager reviews the credit appraisal, checks CIBIL score, and sanctions the KCC credit limit. The farmer is notified of the sanctioned limit. For limits above ₹1.6 lakh, the land must be mortgaged to the bank (simple/equitable mortgage); for limits up to ₹1.6 lakh, no collateral is required for small and marginal farmers.
Visit the bank to execute the loan documents: promissory note, loan agreement, and mortgage deed (if applicable). Affix stamp duty as required under the state stamp act. Pay stamp duty and documentation charges. The bank issues the Kisan Credit Card — a RuPay KCC card linked to the credit limit. The card can be used at ATMs and POS machines at agro-service centres and fertiliser/seed dealers.
Withdraw funds for crop inputs (seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, labour) using the RuPay KCC card at ATMs, or by presenting the card at agro-input dealers. Repay the outstanding amount after harvest and sale of produce. The KCC is a revolving credit facility valid for 5 years; the credit limit is revised annually based on updated crop plan and land records. Complete repayment by the due date (end of Kharif or Rabi season) to avail the 3% prompt repayment incentive that reduces the interest rate to 4%.
Bank — Agriculture Credit Department
Field inspection, land verification, and credit limit calculation
Visits the farm to verify landholding, crop details, and farmer identity; calculates the credit limit based on scale of finance and submits the appraisal to the branch manager.
Scheduled Commercial Bank / RRB / Cooperative Bank
Loan sanction and KCC issuance
Reviews the credit appraisal, checks creditworthiness, sanctions the KCC credit limit, and authorises issuance of the KCC RuPay card.
NABARD — District Office
Supervisory oversight and grievance escalation
Monitors KCC penetration targets in the district, conducts awareness camps with banks, and addresses farmer grievances where banks delay or deny KCC without adequate reason.
KCC scheme guidelines, eligibility details, scale of finance, model scheme documents, and list of participating banks
PM-KISAN beneficiaries can apply for KCC through the PM-KISAN portal as part of the KCC saturation drive; application status tracking
Regulatory guidelines on interest subvention, credit limit fixation, documentation, and KCC operations for banks and borrowers
Banks run a CIBIL / credit bureau check before sanctioning KCC. If you have a previous agricultural loan that became NPA (Non-Performing Asset) at any bank or cooperative society, your KCC application will be rejected. Regularise or settle the outstanding loan first, obtain a No Dues Certificate, and then apply for KCC. This process can take 1–3 months.
The 4% interest rate is contingent on full repayment of the outstanding amount by the end of the crop season (typically 31 March for Rabi and 30 September for Kharif). Missing this deadline means you lose the 3% prompt repayment incentive and the interest rate reverts to 7%, plus penal interest may apply. Set a reminder and repay from crop sale proceeds before the season deadline.
KCC credit limits are calculated based on the specific crops you declare at the time of application and the scale of finance fixed by the DLTC for those crops in your district. If you switch crops mid-season without informing the bank, the purpose-mismatch may cause the bank to reclassify the loan. Always inform the bank of crop changes at the time of annual renewal.
Tenant and sharecropper farmers do not have land records in their name. Without a certificate from the sarpanch or gram panchayat confirming the tenancy arrangement, banks typically cannot process the KCC application. Get this certificate before visiting the bank — many panchayat offices issue it within a few days on a simple application.
KCC loanee farmers are mandated to be enrolled in PMFBY crop insurance; the insurance premium is deducted from the KCC account. However, if the bank does not enrol you by the PMFBY cut-off date, your crop is uninsured even though you have a KCC. Confirm with the bank that PMFBY enrollment has been completed for your crops and seasons immediately after KCC sanction.