No reports yet
SIGNUP

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

At a glance

PMFBY is the central government's flagship crop insurance scheme, launched in 2016. A farmer pays a small, fixed share of the insurance premium; the central and state governments pay the rest. If the insured crop is damaged by drought, flood, hailstorm, pests, disease, or other non-preventable natural causes, the insurance company pays a claim into the farmer's bank account. The Union Cabinet has approved the scheme's continuation up to 2025-26, with an overall outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Who is eligible

  • All farmers growing notified crops in notified areas — owners, tenants, and sharecroppers.
  • Enrollment has been fully voluntary for all farmers since the Kharif 2020 season. Farmers with crop loans (loanee farmers) are enrolled through their bank by default in many states but can opt out before the deadline.
  • Tenant farmers and sharecroppers may need proof of their cultivation arrangement (rules vary by state).

Benefits

  • The farmer's premium share is capped at:
    • 2% of the sum insured for Kharif food and oilseed crops
    • 1.5% for Rabi food and oilseed crops
    • 5% for commercial and horticultural crops
  • The government pays the entire remaining premium. Some states additionally waive the farmer's share, making it free for the farmer.
  • Cover runs from pre-sowing (prevented sowing) through post-harvest losses, plus localized calamities like hailstorm and landslide.
  • Claims are paid directly to the farmer's bank account.

How to apply

  1. Online: register on the National Crop Insurance Portal, pmfby.gov.in, and enroll yourself.
  2. Offline: visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC), your bank branch, a cooperative society, or an authorized insurance intermediary (agents use the AIDE app for door-to-door enrollment).
  3. Loanee farmers are enrolled via their lending bank unless they opt out in writing before the season's cutoff.
  4. Enrollment closes on a state-notified cutoff date each season — confirm the current date for your state and crop on the official portal.

Documents required

  • Aadhaar card
  • Bank passbook (account number and IFSC)
  • Land records (khasra/khatauni or state equivalent)
  • Sowing declaration or certificate for the insured crop
  • Tenancy/sharecropping agreement or self-declaration, where applicable (state rules vary)

Key dates & status

  • Launched: Kharif 2016 season.
  • Voluntary for all farmers since Kharif 2020.
  • January 2025: Cabinet approved continuation of PMFBY and RWBCIS till 2025-26, plus a Rs 824.77 crore Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) supporting YES-TECH (technology-based yield estimation) and WINDS (automated weather stations).
  • Season cutoff dates vary by state and crop — confirm on the official portal.

Common questions

Q: How much do I actually pay? A: At most 2% of the sum insured for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. Some states pay even this share for you.

Q: I have a crop loan. Am I automatically insured? A: Banks generally enroll loanee farmers, but since Kharif 2020 the scheme is voluntary — you can opt out in writing before the cutoff date.

Q: My crop was destroyed by hail. What do I do? A: Report the loss within 72 hours — via the helpline 14447, the crop insurance app/portal, your insurance company, or your bank/agriculture office.

Q: Do CSC operators charge for enrollment? A: No. CSC enrollment for PMFBY is free for farmers.

Sources: https://pmfby.gov.in; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2042245; https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/cabinet-approves-modification-addition-of-the-features-provisions-in-the-ongoing-central-sector-scheme-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana-pmfby-and-restructured-weather-based-crop-insurance-scheme/. Last verified: 2026-08-07. Always confirm current details on the official portal before acting.