PMFBY at 10 years: 92 crore applications insured, ₹2.06 lakh crore claims
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A PIB backgrounder of 29 August 2026 reviews ten years of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, launched on 18 February 2016. From Kharif 2016 to Rabi 2025-26 it insured over 92.46 crore farmer applications and paid claims above ₹2.06 lakh crore. The Union Budget 2026-27 gives it ₹12,200 crore, and 25 States and UTs run it in Kharif 2026.
- Launched
- 18 February 2016 (from Kharif 2016)
- Budget 2026-27
- ₹12,200 crore
- Applications insured
- over 92.46 crore
- Claims paid
- over ₹2.06 lakh crore to 26.33 crore applications
- Farmer premium
- 2% Kharif, 1.5% Rabi, 5% commercial/horticulture
- Coverage, Kharif 2026
- 25 States and UTs
PMFBY at ten years: what happened?
One bad monsoon or a hailstorm can wipe out a season’s income and push a farmer into debt. Crop insurance is meant to break that cycle. After ten years, PMFBY is the main shield, and the numbers in this backgrounder are exactly what a GS III answer on farm risk needs.
- Premium beyond the farmer’s share is shared 50:50 by Centre and States, and 90:10 in North-Eastern and Himalayan States/UTs.
- About 50 per cent of farmers have enrolled voluntarily as non-loanees on average over 10 years.
- More than 1.44 crore tenant and sharecropper farmers have enrolled since 2018.
- Record 2024-25: over 15.23 crore applications, more than 4 crore farmers, over 623 lakh hectares.
- Andhra Pradesh (Kharif 2022), Jharkhand (Kharif 2024) and West Bengal (Kharif 2026) rejoined; Bihar returns from Rabi 2026-27.
Which risks are covered?
- Yield losses on an area basis from drought, dry spells, floods, cyclones, hailstorms, lightning, pests and diseases.
- Prevented sowing, with claims up to 25 per cent of the sum insured.
- Post-harvest losses for crops left to dry in the field, up to 14 days, from cyclones and unseasonal rain.
- Localised calamities such as hailstorms, landslides, inundation, cloud bursts and natural fire, at farm level.
- Not covered: war, nuclear risks, riots, theft and preventable risks.
Why did enrolment dip in 2025-26?
- Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh had paid 100 per cent of farmers’ premium in 2023 and 2024, then stopped in 2025.
- Andhra Pradesh enrolment fell 77 per cent in Kharif 2025, but rose 108 per cent in Kharif 2026 to 16.22 lakh by 28 August.
- Uttar Pradesh grew 35 per cent in Kharif 2025, from 15.48 lakh to 20.84 lakh insured farmers.
Which technologies support the scheme?
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| NCIP | National Crop Insurance Portal for enrolment, subsidy and claim transfer |
| DigiClaim (Kharif 2022) | claims calculated on NCIP and paid through PFMS |
| YES-TECH | remote-sensing yield estimates; weightage up to 50% in some States |
| WINDS | automatic weather stations and rain gauges at block and GP level |
| CROPIC | geo-tagged crop photos to check crop health |
| KRPH (14447) | helpline; 26.12 lakh grievances resolved, 99.66% rate |
How does a claim reach the farmer?
- Farmer enrols via bank, portal or AIDE app
- Land record validated on NCIP
- Yield measured by CCE-Agri App and YES-TECH
- Claim calculated through DigiClaim
- Money paid to the bank account via PFMS
Why does PMFBY at ten years matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Income safety | Claims of over ₹2.06 lakh crore have cushioned farm income shocks. |
| Inclusion | Tenant farmers and sharecroppers are covered. |
| Trust | Voluntary non-loanee enrolment averages about half. |
| Technology | Remote sensing and weather data speed up fair claims. |
| Federal | States returning shows confidence in the national scheme. |
What are the challenges in PMFBY at ten years?
- Enrolment swings when States change premium support.
- Some States still run their own relief schemes outside PMFBY.
- Yield assessment and timely claim payment remain points of friction.
What should be done next on PMFBY at ten years?
- Bihar joins from Rabi 2026-27.
- Nation-wide CROPIC pilots for damage assessment.
- Wider land-record integration beyond 10 States.
What can Prelims ask on PMFBY at ten years?
- PMFBY launched 18 Feb 2016; farmer premium 2% Kharif, 1.5% Rabi, 5% commercial/horticultural.
- Premium subsidy: Centre-State 50:50; 90:10 for NE and Himalayan States/UTs.
- Prevented sowing claim: up to 25% of sum insured; post-harvest cover: 14 days.
- KRPH helpline: 14447.
How to write about PMFBY at ten years in Mains
Practice question (15 marks, 250 words): How far has PMFBY succeeded in reducing farmers’ exposure to climate risk? Suggest improvements.
- Intro: PMFBY, 2016, ten-year numbers.
- Design: low premiums, risks covered, inclusion.
- Tech: YES-TECH, WINDS, DigiClaim, KRPH.
- Gaps: State exits, enrolment swings, claim delays.
- Way forward: universal land records, faster claims.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-08-29): since Kharif 2016, PMFBY insured 92.46 crore farmer applications; 26.33 crore received claims of over ₹2.06 lakh crore; 2026-27 allocation ₹12,200 crore.
- Crop insurance steadies farm incomes when the weather fails.
Quotable data pointSince Kharif 2016, PMFBY insured 92.46 crore farmer applications.
PIB: PIB Backgrounder: PMFBY, 29 Aug 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: PMFBY premium rates.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Under PMFBY, the maximum premium payable by farmers for Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops is
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB Backgrounder, 29 Aug 2026.
The premium subsidy under PMFBY for North-Eastern and Himalayan States is shared between Centre and States in the ratio
Answer (d) & explanation
PIB Backgrounder, 29 Aug 2026.
WINDS, used under PMFBY, stands for
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB Backgrounder, 29 Aug 2026.
Questions students ask about this
When was PMFBY launched?
On 18 February 2016, starting from the Kharif 2016 season.
How much premium does a farmer pay under PMFBY?
At most 2 per cent for Kharif, 1.5 per cent for Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops, and 5 per cent for commercial and horticultural crops.
What is YES-TECH?
The Yield Estimation System based on Technology, which uses remote sensing to estimate crop yields for claims.
Are tenant farmers covered?
Yes. Over 1.44 crore tenant and sharecropper farmers have enrolled since 2018.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: PIB Backgrounder: PMFBY, 29 Aug 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending