Deendayal Upadhyay Sahkarita Kisan Kalyan Yojana
An interest-free loan for farm work — up to ₹3 lakh for a farmer, up to ₹5 lakh for a self-help group — routed through the cooperative societies.
Run by: Cooperative Department, Government of Uttarakhand
- Farmer loan
- Up to ₹3 lakh
- SHG loan
- Up to ₹5 lakh
- Interest
- Zero — interest-free
- Running since
- 2017, via PACS / cooperative banks
Overview
In the hills, the credit gap is not the interest rate so much as the reach: a small farmer often cannot get to a commercial bank branch at all. This scheme works through the cooperative network already present in the villages — the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and District Cooperative Banks — and lends at zero interest.
A member farmer can borrow up to ₹3 lakh for agricultural work, and a self-help group up to ₹5 lakh, interest-free. The scheme has run since 2017; it began with a lower ceiling and a small interest rate and was later made fully interest-free and the limits raised. It is aimed at small, marginal and BPL households, and its stated purpose is as much about checking migration out of the hills and creating self-employment as about the crop — keep farming viable and the family stays. Because it runs on cooperative membership, being a member of your PACS is the first step, not the loan application.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- Interest-free loan of up to ₹3 lakh for a farmer for agricultural work.
- Up to ₹5 lakh, also interest-free, for a self-help group.
- Delivered through the village cooperative society, not a distant commercial bank branch.
- Aimed squarely at small, marginal and BPL households — the ones least served by ordinary bank credit.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Resident of Uttarakhand
- Small, marginal or BPL farmer, or a self-help group
- Member of a Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS)
- Loan sought for agricultural or allied work
Not covered
- Non-members of the cooperative society
- Borrowing for purposes outside agriculture and allied work
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Cooperative society membership
- Aadhaar card
- Land record
- Bank passbook (PACS / DCB account)
- BPL / category proof where the rate depends on it
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Become a member of your PACS
The scheme runs on cooperative membership. If you are not already a member of your Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society, that is where to start.
- 2
Apply at the society or DCB branch
The application goes in at the cooperative society or District Cooperative Bank branch — the same place you bank.
- 3
Block-committee selection and disbursal
A block-level committee selects beneficiaries. The loan is then disbursed through your PACS or DCB.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- For an application rejected without a clear reason, a delay in the block committee's decision, or a sanctioned loan not disbursed, take it up with the Secretary of your PACS and the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies for the district, then the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttarakhand (cooperative.uk.gov.in). Keep the application acknowledgement and your membership number.
- Beyond the department, use the Uttarakhand CM Helpline — toll-free 1905 (registration 24×7, call centre 8am–10pm), the portal at cmhelpline.uk.gov.in, or the CM Helpline app. Keep the grievance reference number to track it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the loan really interest-free?
Yes, per the Cooperative Department’s scheme page — it is described as an interest-free loan for eligible cooperative members. Confirm the current terms at your society, as older notices mention a low-interest variant.
Do I have to be a cooperative member?
Yes. The scheme is delivered through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, so membership is the prerequisite — join your PACS first.
Can a self-help group borrow more?
Yes. An SHG can borrow up to ₹5 lakh, against up to ₹3 lakh for an individual farmer.
Who exactly is eligible?
BPL, small and marginal farmers who are members of a Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society, and self-help groups. Non-members are not covered — join your PACS first.
What can the loan be used for?
Agricultural and allied work — the scheme is framed around keeping hill farming viable and creating self-employment so families do not migrate out. It is not a general-purpose personal loan.
Facts checked against cooperative.uk.gov.in on 20 October 2026. editorial policy.