Centrally Sponsored Schemes are instrumental in shaping India's agricultural landscape by providing financial assistance and guidance for various farming activities. Currently 14 schemes are under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for Agriculture, Rural and Environment category. CSSs are funded by the central government with a state government share. A thorough overview of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), its objectives, benefits, eligibility, coverage and premium sum insured over India and Jammu & Kashmir. PMFBY is a pivotal crop insurance scheme in India designed to mitigate various agro-climatic risks faced by farmers. Extending coverage for both Kharif and Rabi crops, PMFBY provides a safety net against natural calamities such as cyclones, unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and landslides, ensuring the income stability of farmers. The inclusion process requires submission of legal documentation proving land tenure, timely application within specified periods, absence of double compensation for the same crop loss, and provision of valid bank and identity details. Claim filing necessitates prompt notification to insurers post-calamity with substantiating evidence of loss

Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Premium, Insurance

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been instrumental in protecting Indian farmers from financial losses due to crop damage. A comparison of the over the years statistics puts its importance and progress into perspective. During the Rabi season, the number of insured farmers was 1.46 crore in 2018, declining to 1.18 crore in 2024. But the number of applications increased dramatically from 2.20 crore in 2018 to 5.25 crore in 2024, reflecting enhanced repeated enrollment. The area insured varied but was still enormous at 16.39 million hectares in 2024. The gross premium increased to a peak of ₹11.34 lakh crore in 2021 before decreasing to ₹8.05 lakh crore in 2024, while the sum insured increased from ₹91,990 crore in 2018 to ₹99,289 crore in 2024, reflecting enhanced financial security. Likewise, during the Kharif season, the insured farmers increased from 2.16 crore in 2018 to 2.59 crore in 2024, while insured area increased from 27.8 million hectares to 33.3 million hectares. The total insured amount also rose from ₹1.24 lakh crore to ₹1.84 lakh crore, reflecting increased coverage. In Jammu & Kashmir, the farmers covered under insurance went up hugely from 84,444 in 2018 to 1.40 lakh in 2024. Gross premium and sum insured, however, declined in recent years as there were changes in government contributions. PMFBY has increased farm financial protection and made farmers economically protected against climatic risks. Its growing coverage and rising farmer enrollment confirms its place in India's farm economy

Tushar Chaudhary and Sanjay Prakash Singh (2025). Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Biological Forum, 17(5a): 68-72