PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – Crop Insurance Explained

Editorial TeamJune 16, 2026Last Updated: June 16, 2026

9 minutes read

TL;DR 
•	PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is India's national crop insurance scheme launched in 2016.
•	It protects farmers from financial losses due to drought, floods, pests, and natural calamities.
•	Farmers pay very low premiums — as little as 1.5% for Rabi crops and 2% for Kharif crops.
•	Apply through the PMFBY portal, CSC centers, bank branches, or the Fasal Bima App.
•	Available to all farmers — loanee and non-loanee, landowners and tenant farmers.
•	Claim settlement is now faster with tech-enabled crop loss assessment tools.

Every year, millions of Indian farmers watch helplessly as droughts, floods, or pest attacks destroy months of hard work in just a few days. One bad season can push a family into debt that takes years to recover from. That is precisely the gap PM Fasal Bima Yojana was designed to fill.

This article gives you a clear, complete picture of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) — what it covers, who can apply, how the premiums work, how to file a claim, and which apps make the whole process easier. No jargon. No confusion. Just the facts you need to protect your crops and your livelihood.

What Is PM Fasal Bima Yojana?

Launched on January 13, 2016, by the Government of India, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a centrally sponsored agricultural insurance scheme. It replaced two older schemes — the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).

The core idea is simple: the government shares the financial risk of crop failure with farmers. Instead of a farmer bearing the entire loss alone, insurance kicks in and provides compensation. The scheme is implemented through empaneled insurance companies and is available through banks, CSC centers, and online portals.

Core Objectives of the Crop Insurance Scheme – PMFBY

Provide financial support to farmers when crops fail due to unforeseen events
Stabilize farmer income so they can continue farming even after a bad season
Encourage farmers to use modern agricultural inputs without fear of total loss
Ensure the flow of credit to the agricultural sector remains uninterrupted
Reduce farmer distress and support rural economic stability

Who Is Eligible for PM Fasal Bima Yojana?

One of the biggest improvements PMFBY made over older schemes was widening eligibility. Here is who qualifies:

Category	Eligible?	Notes
Loanee Farmers (those with crop loans from banks)	Yes	Enrollment is compulsory
Non-Loanee Farmers (no crop loan)	Yes	Voluntary enrollment
Landowners farming their own land	Yes	Standard eligibility
Tenant Farmers / Sharecroppers	Yes	Must have proof of farming activity
Farmers growing notified crops	Yes	Only notified crops covered in each district

Important: The scheme covers only notified crops in notified areas. Each state government decides which crops are notified for a given season.

What Does the Agricultural Insurance Scheme – PM Fasal Bima Yojana- Cover?

Risks Covered

Natural fire and lightning
Storm, hailstorm, cyclone, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, and tornado
Flood, inundation, and landslide
Drought and dry spells
Pest and disease attacks
Post-harvest losses (within 14 days of harvest for specific drying conditions)
Localized calamities — hailstorm, landslide, and inundation affecting isolated farms

What Is NOT Covered

Losses caused by war or nuclear risks
Willful negligence by the farmer
Theft or destruction by pests that could have been controlled
Non-notified crops and non-notified areas

How Much Do Farmers Pay? The Premium Structure

This is where PMFBY becomes genuinely farmer-friendly. The premium farmers pay is capped at very low rates. The government pays the rest — called the premium subsidy.

Crop Season	Farmer’s Premium (% of Sum Insured)	Government Subsidy
Kharif (summer crops — rice, maize, etc.)	2%	Remaining balance paid by state + center
Rabi (winter crops — wheat, mustard, etc.)	1.5%	Remaining balance paid by state + center
Commercial / Horticultural Crops	5%	Remaining balance paid by state + center

Example: If a farmer grows wheat (Rabi crop) and the sum insured is ₹40,000 per acre, the farmer pays only ₹600 (1.5%). The remaining premium — which could be ₹3,000 or more — is covered by the central and state governments.

How to Apply Online for PM Fasal Bima Yojana

Applying is now easier than ever. Here is a step-by-step process:

Option 1: Apply via PMFBY Official Portal

Visit the official PMFBY portal: pmfby.gov.in
Click on “Farmer Application” on the homepage
Register using your mobile number linked to your Aadhaar
Fill in the crop details, land details, and bank account information
Upload required documents
Pay the premium online and note your application number

Option 2: Apply Through CSC Centers (Common Service Centers)

For farmers who are not comfortable with online forms, the nearest Jan Seva Kendra or CSC center can help. The operator will fill in the details, and you pay the premium at the center itself.

Option 3: Apply Through Your Bank Branch

If you have a crop loan from a bank, enrollment happens automatically. But for non-loanee farmers, visit your bank branch before the cutoff date for the season. Carry all documents.

Option 4: The Fasal Bima App

The Government of India launched the Fasal Bima App for Android smartphones. With this app, farmers can:

Check insurance coverage for their crops
Find nearby Common Service Centers
Register crop loss within 72 hours of damage
Track their claim status
Calculate premium amounts before applying

Download: Search “Fasal Bima” on Google Play Store. The official app is published by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

Documents Required for PM Fasal Bima Yojana Application

Document	Purpose
Aadhaar Card	Identity verification
Land Records / Khasra-Khatauni	Proof of land holding
Bank Passbook (first page)	For premium deduction and claim payment
Sowing Certificate	Confirms the crop has been sown
Cancelled Cheque	Alternate to bank passbook for direct credit
Photo of Sown Crop (optional)	Supports application in some states
Tenant Farming Agreement (if applicable)	For tenant farmers or sharecroppers

How to Check Your Eligibility for Agricultural Insurance Benefits

Not every farmer in every district automatically qualifies. Here is how to confirm your eligibility:

Visit pmfby.gov.in and go to the “Crop Insurance” section
Select your state, district, and crop season
Check the list of notified crops for your district
Confirm that the enrollment cutoff date for the season has not passed
Contact your nearest Agriculture Department office for district-specific notified crop lists

Key dates to remember: Kharif season cutoff is generally July 31. Rabi season cutoff is typically December 31. But these dates vary by state — always check locally.

How to File a Claim Under PM Fasal Bima Yojana

Step 1: Report Crop Loss Within 72 Hours

This is the most important step. As soon as crop damage occurs, the farmer must report the loss within 72 hours through one of these channels:

Call the toll-free helpline: 14447
Report on the Fasal Bima App
Inform the insurance company directly
Inform the nearest bank branch
Contact the local Agriculture Department office

Step 2: Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE)

After the report, the insurance company and state agriculture department carry out Crop Cutting Experiments to assess actual yield loss. This data is used to calculate the compensation amount.

Step 3: Claim Settlement

Once the yield data is verified, the claim amount is calculated and directly credited to the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank account. The whole process has become significantly faster in recent years thanks to technology tools like drones and satellite imagery for damage assessment.

How to Check the Status of Your PM Fasal Bima Yojana Claim

You can check your claim status through multiple channels:

Online: Go to pmfby.gov.in → “Application Status” → enter your application number and mobile number
App: Open the Fasal Bima App → go to “Claim Status” section
Helpline: Call 14447 and provide your registration details
Bank: Visit the branch where you applied — they can check the status in the system
CSC Center: The operator can look up your status on your behalf

Which Crops Are Covered Under the Scheme?

PMFBY covers a wide range of food crops, oilseeds, and commercial crops. Each state notifies specific crops per season. Common examples include:

Kharif Crops	Rabi Crops	Commercial / Horticultural Crops
Paddy (Rice)	Wheat	Sugarcane
Maize	Barley	Cotton
Bajra (Pearl Millet)	Mustard / Rapeseed	Potato
Groundnut	Gram (Chickpea)	Onion
Soybean	Lentil (Masoor)	Banana
Tur (Arhar / Pigeon Pea)	Sunflower	Tomato

This is not an exhaustive list. Coverage depends on what your state government has notified for a given district and season.

Key Improvements Made to PMFBY in Recent Years

The government has continuously updated the scheme. Some of the important changes:

Enrollment made voluntary for loanee farmers from Kharif 2020 onwards (they can opt out)
Use of technology — drones, satellite data, smartphones — for faster claim assessment
Introduction of the Fasal Bima App for easy access and loss reporting
Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer for faster claim payments
State governments can now customize coverage as per local needs
WINDS (Weather Information Network Data Systems) portal integration for real-time weather data

How PM Fasal Bima Yojana Compares to Older Schemes

Feature	Old Schemes (NAIS/MNAIS)	PM Fasal Bima Yojana
Premium Rate	Higher / variable	Fixed cap: 1.5% to 5%
Coverage scope	Limited risks	Comprehensive including post-harvest
Technology use	Manual assessment	Drones, satellite, digital apps
Claim speed	Slower	Faster with direct bank transfer
Tenant farmers	Excluded or limited	Explicitly included
Localized calamities	Not covered	Covered (hailstorm, landslide, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I apply online for PM Fasal Bima Yojana?

Visit the official portal at pmfby.gov.in. Click on “Farmer Application,” register with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, fill in your land and crop details, upload documents, and pay the premium online. You can also apply through the Fasal Bima App, your bank branch, or a nearby CSC center.

What is the purpose of the crop insurance scheme?

The purpose is to protect Indian farmers from financial losses caused by crop failure due to natural disasters, pests, and diseases. It stabilizes farmer income, reduces distress, ensures access to credit, and encourages modern farming practices without the fear of losing everything in one bad season.

How can I check my eligibility for agricultural insurance benefits?

Go to pmfby.gov.in and check the list of notified crops for your district and season. Confirm the enrollment date has not passed. You should be either a loanee farmer with a bank crop loan or a non-loanee farmer voluntarily enrolling. Contact your local Agriculture Department office for district-specific details.

Which mobile apps provide easy access to PM Fasal Bima Yojana services?

The primary official app is the Fasal Bima App, available on Google Play Store. It lets farmers check coverage, report crop losses, track claim status, and calculate premiums. The Kisan Suvidha app also provides related information. Several state governments have their own companion apps — check your state agriculture department website for state-specific apps.

What documents are required for PM Fasal Bima Yojana claim submission?

To submit a claim, you need: your application/policy number, Aadhaar card, land records (khasra-khatauni), sowing certificate, and bank passbook details. For localized calamity claims, you may also need a field photograph showing damage. Report the loss within 72 hours of occurrence — this is essential.

How do I check the status of my PM Fasal Bima Yojana claim?

You can check claim status in four ways: (1) Visit pmfby.gov.in and enter your application number under “Claim Status.” (2) Use the Fasal Bima App’s claim tracking section. (3) Call the toll-free number 14447 with your registration details. (4) Visit the bank branch or CSC center where you enrolled — they can access the system and check on your behalf.

Final Word

Agriculture in India is not just an occupation. For hundreds of millions of families, it is identity, tradition, and livelihood all in one. One crop failure can undo years of effort and savings. PM Fasal Bima Yojana exists to make sure that one bad season does not mean the end of the road.

The scheme is far from perfect — there are genuine concerns about awareness, claim settlement delays in some regions, and state government implementation gaps. But the framework it offers is solid. For farmers who take the time to enroll, understand the coverage, and follow the claim process correctly, it can be a genuine safety net.

The key is awareness. And that is exactly why The Current India covers government schemes like PMFBY in depth — because every farmer who understands their rights and entitlements is one step closer to financial security.

Official Resources PMFBY Official Portal: pmfby.gov.in Helpline Number: 14447 (toll-free) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Fasal Bima App: Available on Google Play Store This article is published by The Current India (thecurrentindia.com) — your trusted source for government scheme explainers, policy analysis, and news that matters to everyday Indians.

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