On December 8, 2025, the Ministry of Finance addressed Starred Question No. *109 in Lok Sabha regarding technical glitches in the payment gateway affecting subsidy disbursement to farmers in Maharashtra.
Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe asked if the government was aware that farmers in Maharashtra had been unable to receive subsidies for approximately 1.5 years due to technical issues with payment systems connecting Cooperative Banks, National Bank channels and SIDBI. He also inquired if the delays caused farmers to incur additional interest and penalties on loans, and what measures the government had undertaken to resolve the glitches, including timelines and interim disbursement provisions. Finally, he asked if there were plans to waive, reimburse, or compensate farmers for the interest and penalties incurred.
The Finance Minister (Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman) responded that, based on information from RBI, NABARD, Public Sector Banks, State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC), Maharashtra and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), no such technical glitches in the payment gateway systems affecting Central Government Schemes was reported in the State of Maharashtra.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the starred question was raised and answered.
Maharashtra: The Indian state where farmers reportedly experienced issues receiving subsidies.
RBI: Reserve Bank of India, which provided information regarding the reported technical glitches
NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, which provided information regarding the reported technical glitches
SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India, referenced as part of the payment gateway system.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *109
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 08 DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 17, 1947 (SAKA)
Technical Glitches in the Payment Gateway
*109. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:
Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Central Government is aware that a large number of farmers in Maharashtra have
been unable to receive subsidies sanctioned under various Central schemes for nearly one and a
half year due to technical glitches in the payment gateway systems connecting Cooperative
Banks, National Bank channels and SIDBI;
(b) if so, whether such delays have compelled farmers to pay additional interest and penalties on
their loans;
(c) whether the Government has undertaken any concrete measures to rectify these technical
issues and ensure smooth and timely transfer of subsidy amounts and if so, the details thereof
along with the expected timeline for resolving the difficulties;
(d) whether the Government has made any interim provisions to immediately disburse all
pending subsidies to affected farmers in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to waive, reimburse or compensate the interest and
penalties imposed on farmers due to these delays and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE FINANCE MINISTER
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.*109 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08th DECEMBER,2025,
REGARDING ‘TECHNICAL GLITCHES IN THE PAYMENT GATEWAY’
(a) to (e) As per information received from RBI, NABARD, Public Sector Banks, State Level
Bankers' Committee (SLBC), Maharashtra and National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI), no such technical glitches in the payment gateway systems connecting Cooperative
Banks, National Bank channels and SIDBI affecting Central Government Schemes was
reported in the State of Maharashtra.
*****