Kisan Credit Card (KCC): Interest Rate, Loan Limit, Eligibility & How to Apply

Updated: 24 September 2026 · Last Verified: 24 September 2026 · By: Akshay Kumar, Editor

Quick Answer

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) gives farmers a revolving credit limit of up to ₹3 lakh for short-term crop loans and allied activities like dairy, fisheries, and animal husbandry, at 7% interest per year. With the government’s Prompt Repayment Incentive for farmers who repay on time, the effective rate drops to 4% per year. Unlike PM-KISAN or PMFBY, KCC isn’t applied for on one central government portal — it’s issued by banks (commercial, regional rural, or cooperative) under Reserve Bank of India and NABARD guidelines, or through NABARD’s own eKCC digital platform.

Key Highlights

What Is the Kisan Credit Card?

The Kisan Credit Card is a credit scheme that gives farmers access to timely, affordable institutional credit — instead of borrowing from moneylenders at high interest — for crop cultivation and related expenses. It was introduced in 1998-99 based on a recommendation from the R.V. Gupta Committee, and is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, with NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) playing a central role in its implementation.

Unlike PM-KISAN or PMFBY, which are direct government-to-farmer schemes run through a dedicated national portal, KCC works through the banking system: any commercial bank, regional rural bank, or cooperative bank can issue a KCC, following RBI and NABARD’s common guidelines. NABARD also runs a digital platform, eKCC, that lets farmers apply and get a bank-ready credit assessment online instead of visiting a branch first.

Once issued, the credit works as a revolving cash facility — farmers don’t need to apply separately for each season’s loan. Many banks issue it as an ATM-cum-debit card, so funds can be withdrawn as needed rather than as a single lump sum.

Benefits

• A credit limit of up to ₹3 lakh for short-term crop loans and allied activities (dairy, fisheries, poultry, animal husbandry, and beekeeping) combined, with a ₹2 lakh sub-limit specifically for the allied-activities portion.
• Interest of 7% per year, reduced to an effective 4% per year for farmers who repay on time, through a combination of a 2% government interest subvention and an additional 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI).
• Flexible, revolving credit — funds can be drawn as needed rather than reapplying every season, and repayment is aligned with harvest and income cycles.
• Covers a wide range of needs: seeds, fertiliser, pesticides, irrigation, and other working capital, in addition to allied farming activities.
• Reduces dependence on informal moneylenders, which is the scheme’s core purpose.

Eligibility

Who Can Apply?

• Farmers who own cultivable land, including owner cultivators
• Tenant farmers, oral lessees, and sharecroppers with a valid farming arrangement
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers
• Farmers engaged in allied activities such as dairy, fisheries, poultry, or animal husbandry

Beyond having cultivable land or a valid farming arrangement, applicants also need to meet the issuing bank’s own creditworthiness criteria, including repayment capacity and credit history — since KCC is a bank-issued credit product, not a direct benefit transfer, final approval depends on the bank’s own assessment, not just scheme eligibility on paper.

Documents Required

Since KCC is issued by individual banks rather than a single central authority, the exact document list and format can vary slightly from bank to bank — confirm the current requirement with your chosen bank branch or on the eKCC platform.

How to Apply

1. Choose a bank — any commercial bank, regional rural bank, or cooperative bank can issue a KCC, so you can apply through a bank you already have an account with, or NABARD’s associate channels like PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies).
2. Alternatively, apply online through NABARD’s eKCC platform (ekcc.nabard.org), which verifies your identity via Aadhaar and validates your land records digitally before connecting you with a lender.
3. Fill in your personal, land, and crop-pattern details.
4. Submit the required documents (identity proof, address proof, land records, photographs).
5. The bank verifies your land records and assesses your creditworthiness and cropping pattern to decide your credit limit.
6. Once sanctioned, you’ll receive your KCC, often issued as an ATM-cum-debit card for easy withdrawal.
7. Your credit limit is reviewed and renewed periodically by the bank, typically every 3 to 5 years.

Application Mode

Offline through a bank branch (commercial, regional rural, or cooperative bank), or online through NABARD’s eKCC digital platform. There’s no single central government website to apply on, unlike PM-KISAN or PMFBY.

Important Dates

KCC has no fixed application window or annual deadline — it’s a standing bank credit facility you can apply for at any time through your bank or eKCC. Once issued, your credit limit is periodically reviewed and renewed by the bank, usually every 3 to 5 years, rather than requiring a fresh application each season.

Official Source

This article explains the Kisan Credit Card in simpler language for easier understanding. Because KCC is a bank-administered credit product rather than a single-portal scheme, always confirm current interest rates, loan limits, and your specific eligibility directly with your bank or NABARD before applying.

• NABARD eKCC (apply online): ekcc.nabard.org
• Reserve Bank of India (interest subvention circulars and guidelines): rbi.org.in

Important Notes

• The 4% effective interest rate only applies if you repay on time — miss the Prompt Repayment Incentive’s conditions and your rate reverts to the base 7% (or higher, without the government subvention).
• Final approval and your exact credit limit depend on the issuing bank’s own assessment of your land, cropping pattern, and creditworthiness — meeting the basic eligibility criteria doesn’t guarantee a specific amount.
• Since KCC is issued through many different banks rather than one central system, processing time, documentation, and minor terms can vary by lender.
• Interest rates, subsidy terms, and loan limits are set by the RBI/government and can be revised — always check the current position with your bank or NABARD before relying on older figures.

Related Schemes

• PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi — direct income support for land-holding farmer families
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) — crop insurance scheme, works alongside KCC for many farmers
• Farmer Schemes — browse all farmer-related scheme articles on JanAvsara
• Agriculture Loan & Subsidy Schemes — KCC, MISS and AIF explained

FAQs

What is the Kisan Credit Card?

A revolving credit facility for farmers, offering short-term loans for crop cultivation and allied activities like dairy and fisheries at a subsidised interest rate, issued through banks under RBI and NABARD guidelines.

What is the interest rate on a Kisan Credit Card?

The base rate is 7% per year. Farmers who repay on time get an additional Prompt Repayment Incentive, bringing the effective rate down to 4% per year.

What is the maximum loan limit under KCC?

Up to ₹3 lakh combined for short-term crop loans and allied activities, with a ₹2 lakh sub-limit specifically for allied activities like dairy, fisheries, and animal husbandry.

Can tenant farmers or sharecroppers get a KCC?

Yes. Tenant farmers, oral lessees, and sharecroppers with a valid farming arrangement are eligible, alongside owner cultivators and Self-Help Groups or Joint Liability Groups of farmers.

Where do I apply for a Kisan Credit Card?

Through any commercial bank, regional rural bank, or cooperative bank, or online through NABARD’s eKCC platform at ekcc.nabard.org. There’s no single central government portal for KCC, unlike PM-KISAN.

How often does a Kisan Credit Card need to be renewed?

Banks typically review and renew the credit limit every 3 to 5 years, rather than requiring a fresh application each season.