Government Schemes

PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) — Crop Insurance Scheme, How to Apply Online

Q: Q1: Is PMFBY mandatory for farmers who take crop loans?

No. Since Kharif 2020, PMFBY is voluntary for all farmers, including loanee farmers. You can opt out by informing your bank in writing before the cut-off date.

Q: Q2: What if I don't own the land — can I still get insurance?

Yes. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers can apply with a tenancy agreement or self-declaration along with the landowner's NOC.

Q: Q3: Is there any maximum area I can insure?

You can insure all your cultivated area under notified crops. There is no upper limit on area, but the sum insured is based on the government-notified scale of finance for that crop in your district.

Q: Q4: What happens if there's a partial crop loss?

For localized calamities (hailstorm, landslide), individual farm-level assessment is done. For widespread losses, claims are settled based on area-level yield data from Crop Cutting Experiments.

Q: Q5: Can I insure multiple crops?

Yes. You can take separate policies for different crops sown in the same season. Each crop will have its own premium and coverage.

Q: Q6: How do I check my claim status?

Visit pmfby.gov.in, go to "Application Status", and enter your application/receipt number. You can also call the insurance company's toll-free number.

Q: Q7: Is the Crop Insurance App reliable for filing claims?

Yes. The official Crop Insurance App (available on Google Play Store) allows real-time claim filing with GPS tagging and photo evidence. It's the fastest way to report crop damage.

Complete guide to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Protect your crops with affordable insurance. Eligibility, premium, and claims process.

CitizenNest Editorial Team9 min read

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Disclaimer: This is an independent informational guide. We are NOT affiliated with any government body. Always verify on official websites.

Official Links

pmfby.gov.in myscheme.gov.in

What is PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)?

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the Government of India's flagship crop insurance scheme launched on 13th January 2016. It provides financial protection to farmers against crop loss or damage due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases.

Farmers pay a very low premium (as low as 1.5-2% of the sum insured), while the government subsidises the remaining premium. In case of crop loss, farmers receive full insured amount as compensation.

Key Feature: PMFBY uses satellite imagery, drones, and technology for quick assessment of crop damage, enabling faster claim settlement.

Who is Eligible?

All farmers growing notified crops in notified areas are eligible
Both loanee farmers (who have taken crop loans) and non-loanee farmers can enrol
Sharecroppers and tenant farmers are eligible (with relevant documents)
Enrolment is voluntary for all farmers (made voluntary from Kharif 2020)

Crops Covered

Kharif crops: Rice, maize, bajra, jowar, cotton, sugarcane, soybean, groundnut, etc.
Rabi crops: Wheat, barley, gram, mustard, lentil, potato, onion, etc.
Commercial/Horticultural crops: As notified by the state government

Note: The specific crops covered vary by district and season. Check the PMFBY portal for notified crops in your area.

Farmer Premium Rates

Season	Crop Type	Farmer Premium
Kharif	Food grains, oilseeds	2% of sum insured
Rabi	Food grains, oilseeds	1.5% of sum insured
Both	Commercial/horticultural crops	5% of sum insured

Example: If a farmer insures wheat crop worth ₹1,00,000 (Rabi), the premium is just ₹1,500. The remaining premium (which can be 15-25%) is paid by the Central and State governments equally.

Documents Required

Mandatory Documents

Aadhaar Card
Bank account passbook (for claim settlement)
Land records (Khatauni/7/12 extract/Patta)
Sowing certificate from Patwari/Village officer
Mobile number

For Tenant/Sharecrop Farmers

Tenancy agreement or lease agreement
NOC from landowner or self-declaration
Land records showing the land details

For Crop Loan Farmers (Loanee)

The bank automatically enrols you (unless you opt out)
Loan account details serve as documentation

How to Apply Online — Step-by-Step

Online Application

Step 1: Visit PMFBY Portal

Go to pmfby.gov.in

Step 2: Register/Login

New users: Click "Farmer Corner" → "Guest Farmer" (for non-loanee farmers)
Register with your mobile number
Create an account with your Aadhaar details

Step 3: Fill Application Form

Select your state, district, block, and village
Enter crop details (crop name, season, area sown in hectares)
Enter land details (survey number/khasra number)
Upload land records and sowing certificate

Step 4: Pay Premium

The system calculates the premium amount based on your crop and area
Pay online via net banking, debit card, or UPI

Step 5: Download Acknowledgement

After payment, download the insurance policy acknowledgement
Save the application number for future reference

Through Bank (Loanee Farmers)

If you have a crop loan, your bank automatically deducts the insurance premium
You can opt out by submitting a written declaration to the bank 7 days before the cut-off date

Through CSC (Common Service Centre)

Visit your nearest CSC with required documents
The CSC operator will fill the application and collect premium
You receive a printed receipt

Cut-off Dates

Kharif season: Typically July 31 (varies by state)
Rabi season: Typically December 31 (varies by state)
Check the PMFBY portal for exact dates in your district

Risks Covered

Risk Type	Coverage
Prevented sowing/planting	If sowing fails due to adverse weather — up to 25% of sum insured
Standing crop loss	Drought, flood, hailstorm, cyclone, pest attack during crop period
Post-harvest losses	Crop damage within 14 days of harvest due to cyclone, rainfall, hailstorm
Localized calamities	Hailstorm, landslide, inundation affecting individual farms
Mid-season adversity	If crop yield expected to be less than 50% of normal — advance payment of 25%

How to File a Claim

Report crop loss within 72 hours of the calamity through:
- PMFBY portal or Crop Insurance App
- Insurance company toll-free number
- Bank branch or agriculture department office
Provide details: policy number, crop, date and type of loss, extent of damage
Insurance company sends a surveyor for field-level assessment
For widespread losses, the government uses Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) and satellite data
Claim amount is calculated and directly transferred to your bank account

Processing Time

Application processing: Instant (online) or 2-3 days (CSC/bank)
Claim reporting: Within 72 hours of crop loss
Claim assessment: 15-30 days after reporting
Claim settlement: Within 2 months of crop cutting data availability (as per scheme guidelines)

Important Tips

Report damage within 72 hours — late reporting can lead to claim rejection. Use the Crop Insurance App for instant reporting.
Take photographs of damaged crops with timestamp — this serves as evidence for your claim.
Don't wait for bank enrolment — if you're a non-loanee farmer, apply directly on the portal to ensure coverage.
Check notified crops — only crops notified by the state for your area are covered. Verify on the PMFBY portal before sowing.
Keep land documents updated — ensure your land records (Khatauni/7/12) are current to avoid claim rejection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is PMFBY mandatory for farmers who take crop loans?

No. Since Kharif 2020, PMFBY is voluntary for all farmers, including loanee farmers. You can opt out by informing your bank in writing before the cut-off date.

Q2: What if I don't own the land — can I still get insurance?

Yes. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers can apply with a tenancy agreement or self-declaration along with the landowner's NOC.

Q3: Is there any maximum area I can insure?

You can insure all your cultivated area under notified crops. There is no upper limit on area, but the sum insured is based on the government-notified scale of finance for that crop in your district.

Q4: What happens if there's a partial crop loss?

For localized calamities (hailstorm, landslide), individual farm-level assessment is done. For widespread losses, claims are settled based on area-level yield data from Crop Cutting Experiments.

Q5: Can I insure multiple crops?

Yes. You can take separate policies for different crops sown in the same season. Each crop will have its own premium and coverage.

Q6: How do I check my claim status?

Visit pmfby.gov.in, go to "Application Status", and enter your application/receipt number. You can also call the insurance company's toll-free number.

Q7: Is the Crop Insurance App reliable for filing claims?

Yes. The official Crop Insurance App (available on Google Play Store) allows real-time claim filing with GPS tagging and photo evidence. It's the fastest way to report crop damage.

This guide is for informational purposes only. CitizenNest is an independent platform and is not affiliated with the Government of India. Always verify details on the official PMFBY portal before applying.