On March 11, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) announced the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) until the 2025-26 financial year, with a total outlay of Rs. 69,515.71 crore for the period between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
Key Highlights of the Scheme
PMFBY Overview: Introduced in the Kharif 2016 season, PMFBY has been made available across all States/UTs of India. The scheme, however, remains voluntary for both States/UTs and farmers, allowing them to opt-in based on their risk perceptions and financial capacity.
Current Implementation: Since its launch, 27 States/UTs have implemented PMFBY in one or more seasons. Currently, 23 States/UTs are actively participating in the scheme.
Comprehensive Execution: Key tasks such as selecting the insurance model, bidding for insurance companies, farmer enrollment, and crop yield assessments are handled by the respective State Governments or a Joint Committee comprising state officials and insurance companies.
Addressing Grievances
While PMFBY has seen the timely settlement of most claims, there have been complaints in the past regarding delayed payments, underpayment due to incorrect data submissions, and discrepancies in yield data. In response, the government has taken several steps to resolve such issues:
- Grievance Redressal Mechanism: To address the concerns of farmers, a Stratified Grievance Redressal Mechanism has been established, comprising the District Level Grievance Redressal Committee (DGRC) and State Level Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC). These committees have been given the authority to hear and resolve complaints efficiently.
- Krishi Rakshak Portal & Helpline: The government has launched the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (KRPH) to make the grievance process more accessible. Farmers can now raise concerns through a single Pan-India toll-free number (14447) linked to the insurance companies’ database. The platform sets specific timelines for resolving grievances.
Enhanced Monitoring and Transparency
To ensure greater transparency, accountability, and timely payment of claims to farmers, the government has made several revisions to the Operational Guidelines of PMFBY. Regular monitoring of insurance companies’ performance is conducted through weekly video conferences, one-on-one meetings, and National Review Conferences.
Looking Forward
With these enhancements, the government aims to make PMFBY more farmer-friendly, improving the accessibility and efficiency of crop insurance in India. By addressing past issues and refining the operational processes, the government hopes to increase farmer confidence in the scheme and ensure that eligible farmers receive timely benefits.
This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting farmers by providing robust insurance cover and addressing the challenges they face due to adverse weather conditions and crop loss.
