Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

What Is Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a Government of India crop insurance scheme designed to protect eligible farmers against financial losses arising from specified natural calamities and other insured risks. The programme operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in coordination with participating State Governments and selected insurance companies.

Introduced from the Kharif 2016 season, the scheme allows eligible farmers to insure notified crops by paying a prescribed premium. If an insured crop suffers a qualifying loss during the relevant coverage period, the farmer may receive compensation according to the applicable assessment and claims procedure.

PMFBY covers several stages of the crop cycle, including certain situations in which sowing is prevented, losses during cultivation, specified localised calamities and eligible post-harvest losses.

However, the availability of insurance depends on the State, agricultural season, district, notified insurance unit and crop. A crop offered for insurance in one district may not be covered in another.

Important: PMFBY does not guarantee a full refund of cultivation expenses whenever a farmer experiences a poor harvest. Insurance compensation depends on the insured peril, the sum insured, the notified area, loss assessment and the relevant policy conditions.

PMFBY Scheme 2026: Key Information

Particular	Details
Scheme name	Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Abbreviation	PMFBY
Responsible ministry	Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Implementation started	Kharif 2016
Programme type	Voluntary, premium-based crop insurance
Kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops	Maximum 2% farmer premium
Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops	Maximum 1.5% farmer premium
Annual commercial and horticultural crops	Maximum 5% farmer premium
Eligible crops	Crops notified for the relevant State, area and season
Loss reporting	Generally within 72 hours for localised and specified post-harvest losses
Post-harvest protection	Up to 14 days under prescribed conditions
Farmer assistance helpline	14447
Official website	PMFBY Government Portal

Premium rates are expressed as percentages of the insured amount. The actual premium payable can vary with the notified crop, insured value and applicable actuarial rate.

Why Was PMFBY Introduced?

Farming is exposed to risks that cannot always be controlled by the farmer. A prolonged dry spell may affect germination, heavy rainfall may damage standing crops, and pests or diseases can reduce yields.

When a major loss occurs, the impact may extend beyond one harvest. Farmers may struggle to repay cultivation-related expenses or arrange inputs for the following season.

PMFBY aims to reduce the financial impact of eligible agricultural risks by providing an insurance mechanism supported by government premium subsidies.

Protecting Farming Income

Insurance compensation can help eligible farmers manage some of the financial consequences of crop damage caused by covered events.

The payment is not necessarily equal to the total cost of cultivation or the entire expected market value of the harvest.

Making Insurance More Affordable

The scheme limits the farmer's premium share for major crop categories. The remaining eligible actuarial premium is supported by the Government under the prescribed subsidy-sharing arrangements.

Encouraging Risk Management

Crop insurance allows farmers to prepare for certain risks associated with seasonal agricultural production.

However, it does not remove every agricultural risk, and appropriate farming practices and timely communication with agricultural authorities remain important.

What Are the PMFBY Premium Rates?

PMFBY uses defined maximum farmer-premium rates for different crop categories.

Season and crop category	Maximum farmer premium
Kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops	2% of sum insured
Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops	1.5% of sum insured
Annual commercial and horticultural crops	5% of sum insured

The Government's March 2026 update confirms that these percentages are the maximum premium shares paid by farmers. Where the applicable actuarial rate is lower, the relevant lower rate may apply.

The remaining eligible premium is subsidised under the programme. This subsidy is part of the insurance financing arrangement rather than an additional payment made directly to every insured farmer.

Premium Calculation Example

Assume a farmer has a notified Kharif foodgrain crop with a sum insured of ₹50,000.

At the maximum 2% rate, the farmer's premium would be ₹1,000.

If the same sum insured were covered at a 1.5% rate for an eligible Rabi foodgrain crop, the calculated premium would be ₹750.

For a notified annual commercial crop at the maximum 5% rate, the calculated premium would be ₹2,500.

These examples illustrate the percentages only. The actual amount should be checked using the official Insurance Premium Calculator and the relevant State notification.

Which Crops Are Eligible Under PMFBY?

PMFBY can cover notified foodgrain crops, oilseeds and specified annual commercial or horticultural crops.

However, a crop becomes eligible for a particular farmer only when the relevant State or Union Territory has notified it for the appropriate area and season.

For example, rice may be insured in one notified district during Kharif, while a different crop may be available in another location.

Farmers should verify the crop, insured area, insurance unit and approved insurer before paying any premium.

What Types of Crop Loss Does PMFBY Cover?

PMFBY includes several insurance provisions covering different parts of the crop cycle.

The reporting and assessment methods vary according to the type of loss, so farmers should understand which provision applies.

1. Standing Crop Yield Losses

Standing crop cover protects against qualifying yield losses arising from non-preventable risks such as drought, flood, storms, cyclones, hailstorms and notified pest or disease events.

These claims are generally assessed using the area approach. The actual average yield of the notified insurance unit is compared with the prescribed threshold yield.

It is therefore possible for the claims assessment to depend on the notified area's overall yield rather than a single farmer's personal estimate.

2. Prevented Sowing or Planting

Sometimes adverse weather prevents farmers from sowing or planting the insured crop.

PMFBY contains a prevented-sowing provision for qualifying situations, subject to the applicable notification and area-level requirements.

A farmer cannot automatically claim this benefit merely because they personally decided not to sow. The prescribed weather-related and administrative conditions must be met.

3. Mid-Season Adversity

The scheme also includes provisions for severe adverse conditions during the crop season, including events that may significantly reduce expected yield.

The applicable government authorities must assess the conditions and invoke the relevant provision under the scheme's rules.

4. Localised Calamities

Certain events may damage individual insured fields rather than an entire large insurance unit.

Depending on the applicable coverage, localised risks can include hailstorms, landslides, inundation, cloudbursts and natural fire caused by lightning.

Because this category involves farm-level assessment, timely loss intimation is particularly important.

5. Specified Post-Harvest Losses

PMFBY includes limited post-harvest protection for certain crops that are required to dry in the field after harvesting.

Coverage can extend for a maximum of 14 days under the prescribed conditions, including specified losses from events such as unseasonal rainfall, hailstorms and cyclonic weather.

The harvested crop must meet the relevant conditions concerning how and where it is kept. Ordinary storage losses in a warehouse or at home should not be assumed to qualify automatically.

What Losses Are Not Automatically Covered?

Crop insurance is subject to specified exclusions.

War, nuclear risks, malicious damage and certain preventable losses are among the general exclusions identified in official guidance.

Theft and damage caused by animals should not be assumed to qualify under the standard protection.

Some States may choose to notify additional coverage for damage caused by wild animals, with separate conditions and potentially additional premium requirements.

Farmers should therefore review the actual insured risks rather than relying only on a general statement that PMFBY covers natural disasters.

Who Is Eligible for PMFBY?

PMFBY is intended for eligible farmers with an insurable interest in a notified crop grown in a notified area during the relevant season.

The programme is voluntary for both loanee and non-loanee farmers.

Landowning Farmers

Farmers cultivating their own land may enrol when the crop and location are notified and the required records and conditions are satisfied.

Tenant Farmers and Sharecroppers

Official guidelines also provide for eligible tenant farmers and sharecroppers.

Such applicants may need documentation or authorised evidence of cultivation and insurable interest, depending on the current State-specific process.

Farmers With Agricultural Loans

Having an agricultural loan does not prove that every crop is insured automatically.

Farmers should check whether they have been enrolled for the relevant season, whether the correct crop and area are recorded and whether an insurance policy has been issued.

How to Apply for PMFBY Crop Insurance

Farmers can use the official PMFBY portal, participating financial institutions, authorised Common Service Centres or another designated enrolment channel.

The available options and application closing dates depend on the relevant State and season.

Step-by-Step Enrolment

1. Check the notification: Confirm your State, district, season and notified crop.
2. Confirm your insurable interest: Ensure that the relevant cultivation requirements are satisfied.
3. Calculate the premium: Use the official PMFBY premium calculator.
4. Prepare your details: Keep the required identity, bank and cultivation information available.
5. Choose an authorised channel: Use Farmer Corner or another recognised enrolment provider.
6. Enter accurate crop information: Specify the crop, season and cultivated area correctly.
7. Submit prescribed records: Provide the relevant documentation and declaration.
8. Pay the premium: Follow the authorised payment procedure.
9. Retain confirmation: Save the application or insurance details provided.
10. Verify the policy: Check its status rather than assuming submission means active coverage.

A Kharif deadline from an earlier year should not be treated as the current deadline. Consult the active State notification before applying.

What Documents May Be Required?

The precise document requirements depend on the farmer's circumstances and the State's current enrolment instructions.

Relevant records may include:

• Identification and contact information.
• Eligible bank account details.
• Land records or other authorised cultivation evidence.
• Applicable tenancy or sharecropping documentation.
• Details of the insured crop and cultivated area.
• Sowing declarations or related records where required.
• Any additional information prescribed by the State or authorised insurer.

These examples should not be presented as a universal checklist for every farmer.

Incorrect crop or area information can create difficulties during claim assessment, so applicants should review their records carefully.

How to Report Crop Loss Within 72 Hours

Under PMFBY, localised calamities and specified post-harvest losses generally require the farmer or authorised agency to report the incident within 72 hours.

This allows the relevant authorities and insurer to arrange timely assessment of the affected field.

Practical Loss Reporting Steps

1. Record the date and approximate time of the event.
2. Keep the insurance policy or application reference available.
3. Contact the Krishi Rakshak helpline at 14447 or another authorised loss-reporting channel.
4. Explain which crop and field have been affected.
5. Provide the location and approximate damaged area.
6. Retain photographs or relevant evidence where safe and practical.
7. Keep the loss-intimation or complaint reference number.
8. Cooperate with any authorised field assessment.

If more than 72 hours have passed, contact the insurer or helpline immediately to understand whether an applicable late-intimation procedure exists.

Late reporting should not be treated as a guarantee that the claim will still be accepted.

Does Every Crop-Loss Claim Require Individual Intimation?

No. The process differs between widespread yield losses and individual farm losses.

For widespread losses assessed under the area approach, claim calculations generally rely on approved yield records and associated government procedures.

Individual farmers do not necessarily need to report each widespread yield-loss event separately.

However, farm-level loss intimation is essential for specified localised calamities and post-harvest events because those claims require assessment of the individual insured field.

Confusing these two procedures can cause unnecessary delays or missed reporting obligations.

How Is a PMFBY Claim Calculated?

For the standard area-based yield-loss cover, the insurer uses the actual yield reported for the relevant notified insurance unit and compares it with the prescribed threshold yield.

Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) and approved yield-estimation methods are used within the assessment framework.

Where actual yield falls below the threshold yield, an admissible claim may arise according to the programme rules.

Simple Claim Calculation Example

Assume that the threshold yield for a notified unit is 20 quintals per hectare and the actual assessed yield is 15 quintals.

The shortfall is 5 quintals, equivalent to 25% of the threshold.

In a simplified example with a sum insured of ₹40,000, a 25% admissible yield shortfall would correspond to ₹10,000.

This calculation is illustrative. Actual compensation depends on the notified insurance unit, official yield assessment, policy coverage, insured area and applicable claim provisions.

How Are Localised Crop Losses Assessed?

Unlike area-based yield losses, certain localised calamities are assessed with reference to the damaged insured field.

After a valid loss intimation, designated officials and the insurance company may carry out a joint assessment according to the prescribed procedure.

The assessment can consider the event, affected crop, insured area and degree of damage.

A farmer's own photograph or estimate may help document the incident but does not replace the official loss assessment.

How to Check PMFBY Application and Policy Status

The official PMFBY website provides an Application Status facility for checking the progress of insurance-related records.

1. Visit pmfby.gov.in.
2. Find the Application Status option.
3. Enter the requested policy or application identifier.
4. Review the status available in the system.
5. Contact the authorised insurer or helpline if details are incorrect or missing.

Application submission, policy issuance, loss reporting, claim approval and claim payment are different stages.

A submitted application does not necessarily prove that the policy is active, and a reported loss is not equivalent to an approved claim.

What Is the Krishi Rakshak Helpline 14447?

The Government has introduced the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (KRPH) to support farmer enquiries, crop-loss reporting and grievance redressal.

Farmers can use the helpline number 14447 to seek information or report eligible loss events through the available system.

When contacting the helpline, it is helpful to keep relevant policy, crop and incident details ready.

Retain any complaint reference provided and use authorised follow-up channels for unresolved issues.

What If a Claim Has Not Been Paid?

Insurance claim processing involves verification and, where relevant, yield or field-level loss assessment.

If a farmer believes an eligible claim remains unpaid, they should first check the insurance policy and claim status with the authorised insurer or PMFBY support system.

Ask whether the claim is awaiting assessment, verification, approval or actual payment.

The 14447 grievance channel can also be used for assistance.

Do not share banking passwords or pay an unofficial agent who claims to guarantee an immediate settlement.

What Changed in PMFBY During 2026?

The Government's 29 August 2026 backgrounder reported a financial allocation of ₹12,200 crore for PMFBY during 2026–27.

It also reported cumulative progress from Kharif 2016 through Rabi 2025–26:

• More than 92.46 crore farmer applications insured.
• More than 26.33 crore farmer applications receiving claim payments.
• Total claim payments exceeding ₹2.06 lakh crore.

These figures relate to applications across multiple seasons, not the number of unique individual farmers.

The Government also highlighted the use of YES-TECH, the Yield Estimation System based on Technology, and WINDS, the Weather Information Network Data System.

These initiatives are intended to strengthen crop-yield estimation, weather-related information and the administration of insurance claims.

The earlier Cabinet continuation approval covered the period through 2025–26, while the August 2026 report describes a separate 2026–27 allocation. These two government statements should not be presented as the same approval.

Is PMFBY the Same as PM-KISAN?

No. PMFBY and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi serve different purposes.

PM-KISAN provides prescribed income assistance to eligible farmer families under its own rules.

PMFBY is an insurance programme in which an eligible farmer pays the applicable premium to cover a notified crop against defined risks.

Receiving a PM-KISAN payment does not automatically mean the farmer has active crop insurance.

Important Precautions Before Buying Crop Insurance

Crop insurance should be purchased with a clear understanding of the specific crop, coverage period and insured risks.

Farmers should verify that the crop is notified for the correct season and area, confirm the premium and review the sum insured.

They should also check that the correct cultivated area is recorded and retain the policy or application acknowledgement.

For localised and specified post-harvest losses, prompt reporting can be critical. Farmers should know the available notification channels before an incident occurs.

Finally, avoid assuming that every agricultural loss or reduction in market prices is an insured event under PMFBY.

Frequently Asked Questions About PMFBY

1. What is Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana?

It is a government-supported crop insurance programme that provides financial protection for eligible farmers against specified insured crop risks.

2. What is the Kharif crop premium?

The maximum farmer premium for notified Kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops is 2% of the sum insured.

3. What is the Rabi crop premium?

The maximum farmer premium for notified Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops is 1.5% of the sum insured.

4. Is crop insurance compulsory?

No. Participation under PMFBY is voluntary for farmers.

5. Can tenant farmers or sharecroppers join?

Eligible tenant farmers and sharecroppers may participate, subject to the prescribed cultivation and documentation requirements.

6. How soon should a farmer report localised crop damage?

Localised calamities and specified post-harvest losses generally require intimation within 72 hours.

7. How long does post-harvest coverage continue?

Eligible post-harvest coverage may extend up to 14 days under the prescribed crop-condition and peril requirements.

8. Will every farmer receive the entire sum insured after damage?

No. The admissible claim depends on the type of loss, assessment and policy provisions.

9. How can application status be checked?

Use the Application Status feature on the official PMFBY portal.

10. What is the PMFBY helpline number?

The Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline number is 14447.

11. Are all crops covered in every State?

No. Coverage depends on the crop, notified insurance unit, season and participating State arrangements.

12. Where can official crop insurance information be found?

The official government website is pmfby.gov.in.

Official Government Sources

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana — Official Portal
• PMFBY Government FAQ — Premiums, Risks and Claims
• Ministry of Agriculture — PMFBY Premium Rates, 10 March 2026
• Press Information Bureau — PMFBY Progress, 29 August 2026
• PMFBY Revamped Operational Guidelines (PDF)

Last reviewed: 19 October 2026. Farmers should confirm the active State notification, eligible crop, insurance period, premium, loss-reporting obligations and applicable claims procedure before relying on a specific benefit.

Disclaimer: eSarkariYojna is an independent informational website, not a government agriculture department or insurance company. This guide explains publicly available crop-insurance information and does not guarantee enrolment, insurance coverage, claim approval or payment. All insurance decisions are governed by the notified policy conditions and authorised assessment process.