Kisan Credit Card Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for a Kisan Credit Card  

The Reserve Bank of India, through Master Circulars, has specified the Kisan Credit Card eligibility criteria. According to the directives of the RBI, the following list of individuals are eligible to apply for a Kisan Credit Card. 

• Individual farmers or joint borrowers who are owner cultivators 

• Tenant farmers

• Sharecroppers and oral lessees 

• Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) or Self-Help Groups (SHGs) made up of individual farmers who are owner cultivators, tenant farmers, sharecroppers and oral lessees

• Individuals owning a registered boat or a fishing vessel along with a licence or permission to fish in estuaries or the sea

• Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), fish farmers and women groups involved in inland fisheries and aquaculture 

• Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and tenant farmers involved in farming rabbits, goats, sheep, birds and poultry with sheds that are owned, leased or rented 

• Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and tenant farmers involved in dairy farming with sheds that are owned, leased or rented 

Depending on the partner bank, there may be a few additional Kisan card eligibility criteria that may need to be satisfied as well. Here’s a quick look at what these are. 

• Applicant farmers should be able to raise a production credit of at least ₹5,000 

• Eligible applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 75 

• However, if the applicant is above 60 years of age, it is mandatory to have a co-borrower who is either a legal heir or an immediate kin.

Factors Affecting the Kisan Credit Card Eligibility Criteria

There are a few factors that can affect your eligibility for KCC. It is important to get to know what they are, especially if you’re planning on applying for one in the near future. Here’s a brief overview of these factors. 

• Location 

To determine your eligibility for the Kisan Credit Card scheme, a few partner banks may require you to reside within the jurisdiction of the banking institution. Although this criteria is not mandatory, it can drastically boost your chances of getting a Kisan Credit Card.

• Age 

Your age also plays a huge role when it comes to determining your eligibility for a Kisan Credit Card. You must be 18 years or older and less than 75 years of age to apply for a KCC. And if you’re 60 years of age or older, producing a co-borrower who is either your legal heir or an immediate kin would be mandatory. 

• Licence and Registration 

Possessing the requisite licences, permissions and registrations, especially if you’re involved in marine fishing, is mandatory. Without them, you may not be able to apply for a Kisan Credit Card. 

Documents Required to Apply for a Kisan Credit Card 

If you’re someone who satisfies the Kisan Credit Card eligibility criteria, you can proceed to apply for one by submitting the following list of documents. 

• A duly filled and signed Kisan Credit Card application form

• A valid identity proof - PAN, Aadhaar, Passport, Voter’s ID or Driving Licence 

• A valid address proof - Ration card, Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter’s ID, latest bank account statement or utility bills not older than 3 months 

• Two recent passport size photographs

• A valid document acting as proof of ownership or lease of land 

Depending on the partner bank, you may be asked to submit a few additional documents when applying for a KCC. For instance, if the loan limit that you’re applying for exceeds ₹1.60 Lakhs or ₹3 Lakhs, you may be asked to submit a collateral. 

Conclusion

The Kisan Credit Card scheme allows farmers to gain access to some much-needed funds in a hassle-free and timely manner. By providing short-term credit at low rates of interest, the KCC scheme hopes to prevent farmers from falling into debt-traps by obtaining credit informally. If you’re someone who is involved in farming, animal husbandry or fishing, do a quick Kisan Credit Card loan eligibility check and apply for one right away.