PMFBY 2026: eligibility, premium, coverage and last date

PMFBY eligibility is decided season by season: the farmer, crop, land and location must fit the notification issued for the participating State or Union Territory. There is no single all-India 2026 last date. Check the current notification before calculating premium or submitting documents, because an old deadline or an unnotified crop cannot create valid cover.

Confirm all of these before applying:

1. the State or Union Territory is participating for the season;
2. the crop is listed in the current season notification;
3. the farm falls inside the notified area or insurance unit;
4. the applicant has the ownership, tenancy, sharecropping or cultivation proof accepted by that State;
5. the application can be completed before the notified cut-off;
6. the same crop and land are not being duplicated through another application.

The scheme is voluntary for farmers. Both loanee and non-loanee farmers should verify what was actually submitted rather than assuming that a crop-loan or Kisan Credit Card entry created correct insurance automatically.

Tenant and sharecropper eligibility depends on the cultivation evidence and enrolment arrangements accepted in the applicable notification. A generic lease letter copied from another State may not be sufficient.

PMFBY applies only to crops and risks covered by the operative notification and scheme guidelines. The framework can include:

• prevented sowing or planting risk for a notified area;
• loss to a standing notified crop from specified non-preventable risks;
• specified post-harvest loss for the permitted period and peril;
• specified localised calamities affecting an insured field;
• widespread yield loss assessed through the notified area approach.

The insurance unit, crop, peril and reporting condition matter. A photograph of field damage does not by itself prove that the event is covered, and a district-wide news report does not replace the farmer's accepted application or required loss intimation.

The official scheme limits the farmer's maximum premium share as follows. The balance of the actuarial premium is subsidised under the scheme, subject to the notification and scheme rules.

These are farmer-share caps, not a list of insured crops. The official portal or season notification supplies the sum insured and confirms whether the crop and area are eligible.

Use this only as a check against the official quote:

Maximum farmer share = notified sum insured × applicable farmer rate

Hypothetical illustration: if a notified Kharif food crop has a sum insured of ₹50,000 for the applicant's insured area, 2% is ₹1,000. If a notified Rabi food crop has the same sum insured, 1.5% is ₹750. For an annual commercial or horticultural crop, 5% of ₹50,000 is ₹2,500.

The actual payable amount and sum insured shown by the official system govern the application. Land area, crop, season, unit and State notification can change the calculation; do not use this illustration as a premium receipt or claim estimate.

There is no one national enrolment deadline for every crop and State. To find the correct cut-off:

1. open pmfby.gov.in;
2. select the current season and location in the relevant farmer or notification area;
3. identify the State notification, notified crop and implementing insurer;
4. read the cut-off that applies to the enrolment channel and farmer category;
5. submit early enough to correct a land, bank or identity mismatch.

Treat dates in an old article, video, advertisement or WhatsApp message as unverified. A deadline for one State, crop or season does not automatically apply to another.

Depending on the current implementation, an eligible farmer may apply through the official PMFBY portal or another authorised channel named in the notification, such as a participating bank, Common Service Centre or authorised intermediary.

1. Confirm the crop, area, insurer and deadline first.
2. Use the farmer and land details that match the accepted records.
3. Review the insured area, sum insured and farmer premium before payment or consent.
4. Obtain an application or acknowledgement number.
5. Save the submitted form, premium receipt and policy record.
6. Verify that the accepted record shows the correct season and crop.

Never pay a person who promises to add an unnotified crop, extend the official deadline or guarantee a claim.

The official application may request identity, bank, land and cultivation records. The exact list differs by State, farmer category and enrolment route. Common categories include:

• Aadhaar or the identity method accepted by the official process;
• bank-account details for premium and claim payment;
• land record or accepted cultivation proof;
• crop, sowing and insured-area details;
• tenancy or sharecropping evidence where applicable;
• mobile number and application photograph, if requested.

Do not upload a full Aadhaar or bank document to a private form. Use only the official PMFBY, bank, CSC or authority channel identified for the scheme.

An application receipt is important, but check that the application was accepted and converted into the correct policy record. Compare the farmer, crop, season, village, insured area, sum insured, premium and insurer.

For application or claim tracking, use the separate PMFBY status-check guide. If approved payment is missing, verify the bank account and Aadhaar/DBT-seeding status. For crop-loss or grievance help, the official Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline uses 14447.

1. ask the enrolling channel for the submitted application and acknowledgement;
2. obtain the premium-debit and remittance record from the bank;
3. raise a grievance through PMFBY or 14447 and keep the ticket;
4. ask the district or State agriculture office for the applicable notification;
5. correct the official record through the service that owns it.

RTI can obtain an existing notification, application movement, bank remittance record or public crop-cutting record from the public authority that holds it. RTI does not extend an enrolment deadline or direct an insurer to approve a claim. See the RTI Act guide and State RTI-fee directory.

For a localised calamity (hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst, natural fire from lightning) or a post-harvest loss, you must report within 72 hours of the event. Missing this window is the single biggest reason claims are weakened.

• Call 14447 (the national crop insurance helpline)
• Use the Crop Insurance app to file online
• Inform your bank or insurance company in writing

1. Record the docket or complaint number immediately — this is your proof of timely reporting

The insurance company dispatches a surveyor to inspect the field, usually accompanied by state agriculture department staff. The surveyor takes photographs, measures the damage and records observations.

• Take your own dated photographs of the damaged crop from multiple angles
• Be present during the survey to point out affected areas
• Ask for a copy of the survey report or at least the surveyor's name and contact

For localised calamities, the claim is calculated based on the percentage of damage assessed. For widespread yield loss, the calculation depends on the actual yield of your area versus the threshold yield (the benchmark for normal production). The lower the season's yield falls below the threshold, the higher the payout.

An approved claim is paid directly into your Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). There is no cash and no middleman. If the payout fails because your account is not seeded with Aadhaar, fix the linking immediately at your bank branch — see our Aadhaar update status guide for help.

India has multiple crop and farmer insurance schemes. Understanding the differences helps farmers choose the right protection.

Key takeaway: PMFBY is the most comprehensive scheme because it covers both area-based yield loss and individual farm-level damage from localised calamities. If you are a loanee farmer with a Kisan Credit Card, PMFBY is the default recommended cover since 2016, though enrollment is now voluntary.

For broader life and accident insurance, also consider PMSBY and PMJJBY insurance schemes which cover death and disability at very low premiums.

PMFBY operates across India, but coverage varies significantly by state. The following table shows approximate enrollment and coverage data for major agricultural states. Figures are indicative based on publicly available government data for recent seasons and may change each crop season.

Each state notifies its own list of crops and areas for each season. Before sowing, check whether your crop and village are notified. Only a notified crop in a notified area can be insured under PMFBY.

One of the most important features of PMFBY is the subsidised premium structure. The farmer pays a fixed, capped share while the Central and State governments pay the much larger balance of the actuarial premium.

Farmer premium rates (uniform across India):

For example, if the sum insured for paddy (kharif) is Rs 40,000 per acre, the farmer pays only Rs 800 per acre. If the actuarial premium is Rs 2,500, the remaining Rs 1,700 is split equally between the Central and State governments.

Bank loan linkage explained:

PMFBY is closely tied to the crop loan and interest subvention system. When a farmer takes a crop loan against their Kisan Credit Card, the bank branch is the primary enrollment channel:

• The bank collects the farmer's 2% (or 1.5% / 5%) premium and debits it from the loan account
• The bank enrolls the farmer with the empanelled insurance company for that district
• Since 2020, enrollment is voluntary even for loanee farmers — the bank cannot auto-debit without consent
• If a claim is approved, it is credited directly to the farmer's account, not adjusted against the loan

Important: If your crop loan is restructured or waived under a state loan waiver scheme, your PMFBY policy remains valid for that season — the insurance was already purchased and paid for.

When a call to the 14447 helpline or the bank leads nowhere, a written Right to Information (RTI) request is often the most effective way to move a stuck PMFBY file. Insurance companies acting for public authorities, and District Agriculture Officers, are covered under the RTI Act and must respond within 30 days.

When to file an RTI:

• Your claim was approved but not credited to your account for more than 30 days
• Your loss was reported within 72 hours but no survey was conducted
• The claim amount looks far lower than your assessment and the calculation was not shared
• Your enrollment receipt exists but your name is missing from the beneficiary list
• The bank debited premium but no policy was generated

Where to file:

• District Agriculture Officer / District Agriculture Department (for enrollment and notification issues)
• The insurance company's Public Information Officer (for claim assessment and disbursement)
• State Agriculture Department at the Secretariat level for state-wide issues

Draft RTI application for PMFBY claim delay:

To the Public Information Officer,
[Insurance Company Name / District Agriculture Office],
[Address]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005
regarding PMFBY Policy No. [your application number]

1. Please provide the current status of my PMFBY enrollment /
   claim bearing application number [number].
2. Please provide the date on which my loss intimation was
   received and the docket number assigned.
3. Please provide the date of field survey, the name of the
   surveyor, and a copy of the survey report.
4. Please provide the threshold yield used for my crop in my
   district and the actual yield assessed.
5. Please provide the detailed calculation of the claim amount
   approved or rejected.
6. If the claim is approved, please provide the expected date
   of disbursement and the reason for delay beyond [number] days.
7. If the claim is rejected, please provide the specific
   grounds for rejection in writing.

I am enclosing Rs. 10 as the application fee. Kindly provide
the information within 30 days as per Section 7(1) of the
RTI Act, 2005.

[Your name, address, and contact number]

Draft it instantly: Use our AI RTI Drafter or read the step-by-step RTI filing guide to submit online.

If the PIO does not respond within 30 days or the reply is unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) within 30 days of the expiry. See our RTI First Appeal guide for the full process and templates. State-level RTI fees vary — check our RTI fees by state guide for your state.

The rain comes, the crop stands, and now the farmer knows what he is protected against. PMFBY is not only for a total wipe out at harvest. It covers four different situations across the season.

• Prevented or failed sowing. If bad weather stops him from sowing at all despite being ready, he can claim a part of the sum insured for that notified area.
• Standing crop loss from mid season adversity. During the season, a long dry spell, a flood or a pest and disease attack that pushes expected yield well below normal can trigger an on account part payment, often calculated at around 25 percent of the likely claim, released before final harvest data is ready.
• Localised calamity at the individual farm. Hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst and natural fire from lightning are assessed on his own field, not on a village average. If hail flattens only his plot, he is still covered.
• Post harvest loss. For crops that are cut and left to dry in the field, damage from cyclone, unseasonal rain or hailstorm within about 14 days of harvesting is covered too.

For the widespread yield loss at the end of the season, the payout is worked out by comparing the actual yield of his area against a threshold yield. The lower the season's yield falls below that threshold, the larger the share of the sum insured that is paid. This is why the scheme depends so heavily on measuring yield accurately, which brings in the technology the farmer never sees but that decides his money.

Two systems now sit under PMFBY to make yield and weather data faster and harder to dispute. The farmer benefits from both even though he only ever meets an app or a phone call.

• YES-TECH. The Yield Estimation System using Technology uses satellite remote sensing to estimate yield, with a minimum weight of 30 percent given to the technology based figure. This reduces the wait for manual crop cutting experiments and the arguments that used to follow them.
• WINDS. The Weather Information and Network Data Systems sets up automatic weather stations at block level and automatic rain gauges at panchayat level, so that hyper local weather data, not a distant district reading, backs a weather based claim.

To fund this, the Union Cabinet approved a Fund for Innovation and Technology of Rs 824.77 crore when it cleared the scheme's continuation. The point of this section for the farmer is simple. Accurate data means his genuine loss is more likely to be caught and paid, and a false claim is harder to push through.

* Premium debited but no policy visible. Ask the bank or CSC for the policy and application number in writing, and confirm the enrolment on the portal. Money taken without a policy on record is the commonest dispute.

• Crop or village not notified. Only notified crops in notified areas qualify. Check the notification for the season before sowing, because this cannot be fixed after a loss.
• Aadhaar not linked to the bank account. A direct benefit transfer fails silently if the account is not seeded. Get it linked at the branch before the season, not after a claim is approved.
• Loss reported late. Missing the 72 hour window is the easiest way to weaken a localised or post harvest claim. Report first, gather photographs after.
• Claim amount looks too low or is rejected. Ask in writing for the yield data, the threshold yield used and the calculation. This is exactly where the right to information helps.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched in 2016 by the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the country's flagship crop insurance scheme, run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Its continuation was cleared up to the year 2025 to 2026 with an overall outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore, alongside the technology upgrades described above. You can see it beside every other central and State welfare scheme on the All Modi-era Sarkari Yojana index 2014 to 2026.

The farmer pays a fixed share of the sum insured. That is 2 percent for kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5 percent for rabi food and oilseed crops, and 5 percent for commercial and horticultural crops. The Central and State governments pay the much larger balance of the actuarial premium.

For localised calamity and post-harvest claims, expect payment within 2 to 3 months of reporting. For widespread yield-based claims, it can take 3 to 6 months because these depend on final crop cutting experiment results. If an approved claim is not credited within 30 days, escalate with the helpline or file an RTI.

File a written complaint with your bank branch manager with the premium debit receipt and application number. If unresolved within 15 days, escalate to the insurance company's grievance officer, then to the District Agriculture Officer. You can also file an RTI asking for the status of your enrollment application.

PMFBY pays based on actual yield shortfall compared to a threshold yield and also covers individual farm-level damage from localised perils. Weather-Based Crop Insurance (WBCIS) pays when weather parameters (rainfall, temperature, humidity) at a reference weather station breach predefined triggers — regardless of your individual farm's actual outcome. PMFBY is more comprehensive because it covers both area-level and individual-level losses.

Ask the insurance company in writing for: (1) the yield data for your area, (2) the threshold yield used, (3) the claim calculation sheet, and (4) the specific grounds for rejection. If the written response is not satisfactory, file an RTI with the District Agriculture Officer or the insurance company's PIO. Preserve your application number, loss report docket number and all correspondence.

A farmer must satisfy the current State or Union Territory notification for the season, including the notified crop, area and accepted cultivation proof. Check the operative notification before applying.

No. PMFBY is voluntary for farmers. Check any premium debit and accepted application rather than assuming correct cover was created automatically.

For notified Kharif food and oilseed crops, the farmer's maximum share is 2% of the sum insured.

For notified Rabi food and oilseed crops, the farmer's maximum share is 1.5% of the sum insured.

The maximum farmer share is 5% for notified annual commercial and horticultural crops.

There is no single all-India last date. Use the current season notification for the crop, State or Union Territory and enrolment route shown through the official PMFBY system.

Potentially, when the crop and area are notified and the applicant can provide the cultivation or tenancy evidence accepted in that State's process. Check the current notification.

No. Payment depends on valid cover, the notified risk, required reporting or area-yield assessment, and the claim record. Keep the application, policy and loss-intimation evidence.

• Check a PMFBY application or claim status
• Check Aadhaar and DBT bank seeding
• Farmer ID and AgriStack guide
• How to file a CPGRAMS grievance
• RTI Act, 2005 guide
• State-wise RTI fees
• RTI Wiki home
• The RTI Playbook

• PMFBY official portal: enrolment, notifications and farmer services
• Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline
• Department of Agriculture: PMFBY operational guidelines
• PIB, 10 March 2026: farmer premium limits and voluntary status
• PIB, 5 June 2026: PMFBY and 14447 helpline update

Last reviewed: 31 August 2026.