TheReserve Bank of India (RBI)has issued revised draft guidelines for theKisan Credit Card (KCC)scheme, aiming to provide a unified framework for agriculture and allied activities. The proposed changes are intended to expand credit access, make farm loans more flexible, and better align repayment schedules with actual crop cycles. The draft applies to commercial banks, small finance banks, regional rural banks, and rural co-operative banks.
Key highlights of the draft include:
Single, Clearer Framework– Agriculture and allied activities will now follow a consolidated set of rules, simplifying the scheme for lenders and expanding its reach.
Standardised Crop Seasons– Short-duration crops will have a 12-month loan cycle, and long-duration crops an 18-month cycle, ensuring uniformity in loan sanction and repayment schedules.
Longer Loan Tenure– The maximum KCC loan tenure may be extended to six years, helping farmers with long-duration crops match repayments to actual income timelines.
Credit Linked to Real Costs– Loan limits will be aligned with the official scale of finance for each crop, allowing farmers to access credit that reflects real cultivation expenses.
Coverage for Modern Farming– The scheme now supports expenses such as soil testing, weather information, and certifications for organic or sustainable practices, within the additional 20% provision for farm asset maintenance.
The RBI has invitedpublic commentson these draft directions untilMarch 6, 2026, via its official website and email. Once finalised, the revised KCC rules are expected to make farm financing more practical, transparent, and supportive of modern agricultural practices.
