Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, or PMFBY, is crop insurance for eligible farmers growing notified crops in notified areas. It is voluntary, and a bank loan is not the only route to enrolment. To apply or check an application, start with the official PMFBY portal or an authorised enrolment channel. The crop, land area, farmer identity and supporting documents must match the actual cultivation details.
The farmer's contribution is generally capped at 2% of the sum insured for Kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops, 1.5% for Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops, and 5% for annual commercial and horticultural crops, subject to the applicable actuarial rate. These percentages describe the premium contribution, not a guaranteed compensation amount. A claim depends on the notified cover and assessment of an insured loss.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Official portal | pmfby.gov.in |
| Farmer premium caps | Kharif 2%; Rabi 1.5%; annual commercial and horticultural crops 5% |
| Application deadline | Current state, crop and season notification |
| Crop loss reporting | 72-hour intimation requirement for relevant individual loss covers |
| Scheme grievance helpline | 14447 |
Who is eligible for PM Fasal Bima Yojana?
Ownership alone does not settle eligibility. The farmer must have an insurable interest in the crop, and the crop and area must fall within the season's notified arrangements. The Agriculture Ministry's official explanation of application validation, dated 2 December 2025, expressly includes evidence of ownership or of being a tenant or sharecropper among the checks.
The same explanation says the insured land area cannot exceed the actual area of the parcel. The insured crop must match what is sown, and the farmer's name must match the Aadhaar name. These are practical checks to complete before paying a premium. An application receipt records a submission; it does not remove the insurer's verification requirements.
The scheme's voluntary nature is confirmed in PIB's February 2025 scheme backgrounder. Farmers without crop loans can participate if they meet the applicable requirements. Anyone using a bank or another intermediary should ask which crop, area and season have actually been entered, rather than assuming an existing account completes the insurance application.
PMFBY documents and online application steps
Prepare identity and bank details, land or cultivation-rights evidence, and the crop and area information required for the notified season. A tenant or sharecropper should ask the authorised channel which locally accepted documents demonstrate cultivation rights. The exact accepted form of evidence should be checked with the implementing authorities, since an unsupported declaration may not satisfy validation.
Open the official PMFBY portal and use the farmer application facility. Enter the required details, select the correct season and crop, upload the requested records and review the application before making the required payment. Save the receipt and application reference. PIB's application guide directs users to the portal's Application Status option for tracking.
An authorised bank, Common Service Centre or insurance intermediary can also act as an enrolment channel. Check the completed entry rather than relying only on a verbal assurance. An incorrect name, excessive insured area, missing tenancy evidence or a crop different from the one sown can lead to a query or rejection.
PMFBY last date: check the season notification
There is no safe single date to use for every crop and state. The ministry's December 2025 reply describes 31 July for Kharif and 31 December for Rabi as general enrolment cut-off dates. Readers should confirm the operative deadline in their own notified season, including any official extension. Do not treat those general dates as a fresh nationwide 2026 announcement.
For the same reason, confirm the notified sum insured and the premium payable for the selected crop before completing an application. A percentage cap does not tell a farmer the entire rupee amount without the sum insured. Nor does it establish the amount that would be paid for any particular loss.
What losses are covered, and when must damage be reported?
PIB's scheme material describes cover for specified standing-crop risks, prevented sowing, localised calamities and certain post-harvest losses. Post-harvest protection can extend up to 14 days for eligible crops kept in the prescribed cut-and-spread condition. This is a defined insurance provision, rather than general protection for every loss after harvest or for all stored produce.
The official revamped operational guidelines set a 72-hour intimation requirement for relevant individual farm loss reporting. Report damage promptly through the prescribed channel and retain the acknowledgement. Provide the application number, affected crop, survey or parcel information and affected area. The report enables assessment; it is not an automatic approval of compensation.
PMFBY application status, rejection and helpline
If documents are missing, the ministry says applications can be returned to the enrolment channel for correction. Ask that channel what is missing and keep copies of what you supply. For disputed rejection, the official routes include KrishiRakshak Portal and Helpline, agriculture officers and the relevant grievance committee. The scheme helpline is 14447; retain the complaint ticket for follow-up.
Confirm eligibility and the season's terms on the official portal before relying on cover. For related assistance routes, read our guides to PM Kisan Maandhan, e-Shram registration and CPGRAMS complaint tracking. Each has separate rules and should not be confused with crop insurance.
