Transparency and Accountability under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bim | UPSC Current Affairs Daily

Transparency and Accountability under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

The farmers can get enrolled through various sources under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
In addition to the conventional channels of enrollment of farmers through Rural financial institutions/banks and insurance companies/their intermediaries, Common Service Centers (CSCs) are also available at village level for facilitating free enrollment. 
Farmers can also do direct online enrollment on National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) or through Crop Insurance App. 

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

PMFBY was launched on 13th January 2016.
provides a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers.
Scope: All food & oilseed crops and annual commercial/horticultural crops for which past yield data is available.
Premium: The prescribed premium is 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all rabi crops. In the case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium is 5%.
Premium cost over and above the farmer share was equally subsidized by States and GoI.
However, GoI shared 90% of the premium subsidy for North Eastern States to promote the uptake in the region.
The scheme was compulsory for loanee farmers availing Crop Loan/Kisan Credit Card (KCC) account for notified crops and voluntary for others.

PMFBY 2.0:
In order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, the central government had revamped PMFBY in the 2020 Kharif season.
This overhauled PMFBY is often called PMFBY 2.0, it has the following features:
Completely Voluntary: Enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif.
Limit to Central Subsidy: The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre’s premium subsidy under the scheme for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops.
More Flexibility to States: The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features.
Investing in ICE Activities: Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on information, education and communication (IEC) activities

Use of Technology under PMFBY:
Crop Insurance App:
Provides for easy enrollment of farmers.
Facilitate easier reporting of crop loss within 72 hours of occurrence of any event.
Latest Technological Tools: To assess crop losses, satellite imagery, remote-sensing technology, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning are used.
PMFBY Portal: For integration of land records.

SOURCE: PIB