In a significant leap towards agricultural security, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has witnessed its highest-ever enrollment, with 4.19 crore farmers registered in the 2024–25 season—a 32% increase from 3.17 crore in 2022–23. Introduced during the Kharif 2016 season, PMFBY continues to grow stronger each year, safeguarding farmers against crop losses due to natural calamities.
This milestone reflects the Modi Government’s commitment to farmer welfare, with a special focus on non-loanee, small & marginal, and tenant farmers, who made up over 24% of total enrollees this year.
What’s Driving PMFBY’s Success?
A string of innovative reforms and technology integrations have turbocharged the scheme’s implementation:
National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) now serves as the central hub for real-time data, direct enrollment, and claim processing.
DigiClaim Module (active since Kharif 2022) ensures quick, transparent disbursal of insurance claims by linking NCIP with the PFMS and insurers’ systems. Any claim delay automatically triggers a 12% penalty.
Farmers’ yield data is now recorded via the CCE Agri App, ensuring faster, more accurate claim settlements.
Mandatory ESCROW accounts for states and delinking of central subsidies make premium flows more streamlined and accountable.
Tech for Transparency & Speed
Two groundbreaking technologies are transforming how crop damage is assessed:
1. YES-TECH: Uses remote sensing and satellite imagery to estimate yields. From Kharif 2023, 30% of yield data must now come from YES-TECH. Initially launched for wheat and paddy, soybean joined the list in Kharif 2024.
2. WINDS: A Weather Information Network deploying 5x more automatic weather stations and rain gauges than before. This system feeds hyper-local data to a national database, improving weather prediction, drought monitoring, and insurance accuracy.
Reaching Every Farmer
The government has launched multiple outreach programs to build awareness and trust:
Fasal Bima Saptah & Fasal Bima Pathshalas at village level educate farmers on PMFBY’s benefits.
‘Meri Policy Mere Haath’—a doorstep campaign distributing hard copies of insurance policies to farmers—ensures transparency and access at the grassroots.
State-wise Progress & Pending Claims
While reforms have significantly boosted efficiency, some pending claims remain. The highest dues are from Rajasthan (₹1,525 Cr), Madhya Pradesh (₹1,468 Cr), and Andhra Pradesh (₹2,565 Cr). These figures reflect past claim cycles, and the government is actively working with insurance companies and states to resolve them swiftly.
Towards an Aatmanirbhar Kisan
PMFBY’s growing adoption showcases India’s strides towards resilient agriculture and financially empowered farmers. With technology at its core and farmer welfare at its heart, the scheme continues to be a pillar of Viksit Bharat—a developed India that secures its food producers first.