The Centre has flagged 31.01 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme as “suspected” cases to states and Union Territories, where both husband and wife were receiving cash benefits simultaneously. This was revealed during a massive scrutiny drive undertaken by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

According to sources, of the 31.01 lakh cases, verification of 19.02 lakh beneficiaries is complete. Of these, 17.87 lakh or 93.98 per cent have been confirmed as husband and wife, sources added.

The agriculture ministry has now sent letters to states, asking them to complete the verification exercise by October 15.

Under the PM-Kisan scheme aimed at supplementing the financial needs of all landholding farmers’ families, an amount of Rs 6,

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