QUESTION 9
GS3
12.5 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).
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss why Indian farmers need crop insurance and set out the key features of PMFBY.
Discuss... bring outAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Need: monsoon dependence, droughts, floods, pests, small holdings, farmer distress and debt≈35 words
- 2PMFBY features: low premiums (2% kharif, 1.5% rabi, 5% commercial/horticulture), rest shared by Centre and states; covers sowing to post-harvest; localised calamities; technology for yield estimation≈35 words
- 3Issues: delayed claims, state exits, low tenant coverage≈35 words
- 4Reforms: voluntary since 2020, YES-TECH, CROPIC≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
VulnerabilityNeedPMFBY featuresIssuesReformsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Wrong premium rates
- No mention of earlier schemes or issues
Draw this
- Crop cycle timeline showing PMFBY coverage stages
Value addition
- SchemePMFBY (2016) replaced NAIS and Modified NAIS.Ministry of Agriculture
- Reform2020 revamp made PMFBY voluntary for all farmers and raised central share to 90% for North-Eastern states.Cabinet decision, 2020
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.