Modi govt's minimum income guarantee scheme was for landless farmers too

The Narendra Modi government had intended the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) — its latest flagship scheme — as a minimum income guarantee programme for all farm sector workers, whether they hold land or not. The plan was scrapped as the Centre realised it will be difficult to identify landless farmers. 

Officials involved with 2019-20 interim Budget told Business Standard that discussions on an income or price support scheme for an ailing agricultural sector started around August 2018. Initially, the discussion was held among central government departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office, finance ministry and Niti Aayog. Then, discussions widened