Why in news
- The Ministry of Agriculture reviewed ten years of PMFBY implementation since its launch in Kharif 2016 and highlighted technology-driven claim settlements.
What is the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana?
- Launched on 18 February 2016 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to replace earlier crop insurance schemes like NAIS and MNAIS.
- Provides comprehensive yield and crop loss insurance covering pre-sowing risks, mid-season adversity, localized calamities, and post-harvest losses from natural risks.
- Enforces uniform maximum premium rates for farmers: 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for annual commercial/horticultural crops, with remaining premium subsidized equally by Central and State governments.
Key Technological Integrations
- Yield Estimation System based on Technology (YES-TECH): Utilizes satellite imagery, remote sensing, and drone data to streamline Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) and enable faster claim settlements.
- Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS): Establishes a hyper-local network of automatic weather stations (AWS) and rain gauges to improve localized weather data collection for actuarial pricing and risk assessment.
Why it matters
- Reduces delay in crop loss assessment and eliminates discretionary claim disputes between farmers and insurance companies.
- Stabilizes farm incomes against climate shocks and unseasonal weather, supporting continuity in credit cycles for agricultural production.
Key terms
YES-TECH
A technology-driven crop yield estimation system integrating remote sensing and satellite data under PMFBY.
WINDS Portal
A centralized platform for hyper-local weather data collection from automated weather stations to support agricultural insurance.
Prelims facts
- PMFBY premium rates are 2% for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops.
- YES-TECH and WINDS portals are official digital tools used for yield and weather data under PMFBY.
Mains discussion
- Evaluate the role of technology integration in overcoming delayed claim settlements in agricultural insurance.
Source: PIB English
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2016 · Q10 · GS III · 12 marks
Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). -
2016 · Q21 · General Studies · 2 marks
With reference to 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana', consider the following statements: 1. Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year. 2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?