State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 05 Nov 2025

Digital KCC Platform by UP Gramin Bank

Why in News?

The Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank (UPGB) has announced that farmers will soon be able to access an entirely digital procedure to obtain the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). 

Key Points

• About: The new facility, which will operate through the bank’s mobile application, is designed to make the process faster and more transparent. 
  • Using an integrated e-KYC platform, farmers will be able to complete document verification and receive their KCCs digitally without visiting a branch.
  • The e-KYC service will soon be launched on the UPGB M Tarang mobile app.
• Objective: This initiative aims to expand credit access for farmers while strengthening the bank’s digital ecosystem. 
• About Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank:
  • The Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank was formed in May 2025 after the amalgamation of three regional rural banks—Aryavart Bank, Baroda UP Bank, and Prathama UP Gramin Bank. 
  • The merger created a centralised entity aimed at strengthening the lending and financial-service network in rural and semi-urban areas of the state.
  • The consolidated institution has been focusing on enhancing rural credit penetration, modernising operations, and improving financial sustainability.
  • Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank currently serves about eight crore customers across the state and manages a total business portfolio of ₹2.18 lakh crore.
• Digital and Financial Inclusion Initiatives:
  • To promote financial inclusion, the bank will expand technology-based services such as mobile banking, UPI payments, and internet banking to farmers, small traders, and women’s self-help groups across rural areas.
  • Customers will also be able to upload and submit required documents digitally through the UPGB M Tarang app for different banking products, including KCCs and micro-loans.

Kisan Credit Card 

• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, launched in 1998, aims to provide farmers with adequate and timely credit through a simple and flexible loan mechanism to meet their agricultural, ancillary, and contingency expenditure needs.
• In 2004, this scheme was extended to meet the investment credit requirement of farmers for allied and non-agricultural activities. 
• In Budget 2018-19, the Government announced expansion of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to help fisheries and livestock farmers meet their working capital needs.