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Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)

At a glance

RWBCIS, launched in 2016 alongside PMFBY, insures farmers against bad weather rather than measured crop loss. Each notified crop and area gets a "weather index" — safe ranges for rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and similar parameters. If readings from the reference weather station cross those limits during the crop season, all insured farmers in that area receive a payout, without field-by-field loss assessment. The farmer pays the same small premium share as under PMFBY, and the scheme has been continued till 2025-26 together with PMFBY.

Who is eligible

  • All farmers — owners, tenants, and sharecroppers — growing a notified crop in a notified area where the state has chosen RWBCIS for that crop.
  • Like PMFBY, enrollment is voluntary; loanee farmers enrolled through their bank can opt out before the cutoff date.
  • Note: a state notifies either PMFBY or RWBCIS for a given crop and area — you cannot pick between the two yourself.

Benefits

  • Farmer premium share is capped at:
    • 2% of the sum insured for Kharif crops
    • 1.5% for Rabi crops
    • 5% for annual commercial and horticultural crops (or the actuarial rate, whichever is less)
  • Governments pay the rest of the actuarial premium.
  • Payouts are triggered by weather-station data, so claims are typically faster and don't need crop-cutting experiments.
  • Covers adverse weather such as deficit or excess rainfall, high or low temperature, humidity, wind speed, and (as add-ons in some states) hailstorm and cloudburst.

How to apply

  1. Check whether your state has notified RWBCIS for your crop and area (state agriculture department or pmfby.gov.in — RWBCIS runs on the same National Crop Insurance Portal).
  2. Enroll through your bank, a Common Service Centre (CSC), an authorized insurance intermediary, or online via the portal, before the state's seasonal cutoff date.
  3. Loanee farmers are enrolled by their bank unless they opt out in writing.

Documents required

  • Aadhaar card
  • Bank passbook (account number and IFSC)
  • Land records (khasra/khatauni or state equivalent)
  • Sowing declaration/certificate
  • Tenancy or sharecropping proof where applicable (state rules vary)

Key dates & status

  • Launched: 2016 (a restructuring of the earlier WBCIS).
  • January 2025: continued till 2025-26 along with PMFBY under a combined outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore (2021-22 to 2025-26), with the WINDS initiative expanding automated weather stations for better index data.
  • Seasonal enrollment cutoffs vary by state and crop — confirm on the official portal.

Common questions

Q: How is this different from PMFBY? A: PMFBY pays when actual crop yield falls short. RWBCIS pays when weather readings (like rainfall) cross harmful limits — even if your individual field somehow did fine, and vice versa.

Q: Do I need to file a claim after bad weather? A: Generally no. Payouts are computed from reference weather-station data for your area and paid to enrolled farmers. Add-on covers like hailstorm may need individual intimation — confirm with your insurer.

Q: What do I pay? A: The same as PMFBY: at most 2% (Kharif), 1.5% (Rabi), or 5% (commercial/horticultural crops) of the sum insured.

Q: Can I choose RWBCIS instead of PMFBY? A: No. Your state decides which scheme applies to each notified crop and area.

Sources: https://pmfby.gov.in/pdf/RWBCIS_Revised_Guidelines_1.pdf; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089249; 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.