What is the weather based crop insurance system?

It provides financial protection to farmers against crop loss due to adverse weather conditions like rainfall, temperature, and humidity.

What is the last date for weather based crop insurance scheme 2025?

The last date varies by state and crop season, usually aligning with the cut-off dates of the Kharif and Rabi seasons.

What is restructured weather based crop insurance scheme?

It is a revised version of the earlier scheme that links insurance payouts to weather parameters instead of actual yield loss.

What are the three types of crop insurance?

The three types include yield-based, weather-based, and area-based crop insurance schemes.

Who is eligible for crop insurance?

All farmers, including loanee and non-loanee farmers cultivating notified crops, are eligible for crop insurance.

What is the meaning of weather insurance?

Weather insurance compensates farmers for financial loss due to abnormal weather that affects crop production.

What is the difference between Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and restructured weather based crop insurance scheme?

PMFBY is yield-based, compensating for crop loss, while RWBCIS is weather-based, compensating based on weather conditions.

Disclaimer: Jaagruk Bharat is a private organization offering support for documentation and government scheme access. We are not affiliated with any government body. Official services are available on respective government portals. Our goal is to make processes easier and more accessible for citizens.

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Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme Complete Guide 2025

Komal Bajpai

Author

Updated: 13-11-2025 at 5:30 AM

With the adverse effects of climate change rapidly changing the cultivation scenario, it becomes important to compensate those affected by it. Agriculture is the most affected activity due to changed or unanticipated weather conditions.

In 2022, the onset of heatwaves significantly impacted the crop yield amount significantly. The production of Wheat crops declined from 109.59 million tonnes in 2021 to 107.7 million tonnes in 2022. Thus, it is very necessary to address the effects of such changes in the weather on the earnings of the farmers.

The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme seeks to solve this concern. Let's learn how.

Overview

The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS Portal) is a government initiative designed to support farmers affected by unpredictable weather changes financially.

Particulars	Details
Scheme Name	Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)
WBCIS launch date and Launched By	Government of India
Implementing Authority	Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Objective	To protect farmers against financial losses due to adverse weather conditions
Coverage Area	Notified areas and crops as defined under the scheme
Covered Risks	Deficit/excess rainfall, high/low temperature, wind speed, humidity, hailstorms, cloudbursts
Beneficiaries	Farmers cultivating notified crops in notified areas
Premium Rates	Minimum, subsidised by the government
Application Mode	Online via the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) portal

What Is The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)?

The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme is a government scheme that aims to provide financial assistance by insuring the yield and crops of farmers in specific areas against unanticipated weather conditions.

The WBCIS scheme follows an area-based approach instead of an individual one. This means that in the event of adverse weather conditions, insured farmers in a particular area will receive financial aid through insurance claims. The claims paid to the farmers in a unit area are the same since the loss suffered by all farmers is measured based on the same weather data.

The following perils or weather conditions are covered under the purview of this scheme:

Rainfall-deficit or excess rainfall,
Wind Speed,
Temperature-low and high,
Relative humidity,
A combination of all of the above and
Hailstorms or cloudbursts.

What Are The Benefits Of The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)?

The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme is a special scheme addressing weather concerns only. Its benefits are listed as follows:

Insurance against losses: The scheme provides financial assistance for losses that are incurred owing to weather conditions in an area. It emphasises unprecedented and unanticipated weather conditions.
Minimum Premium Rates: The premiums that have to be paid by the farmers under this scheme are set at minimum rates to ensure less pressure on the farmers. Since the government of India aids and provides assistance, the major portions of the premiums are borne by them.
Social Security: Insurance provides social security against debt by compensating for the incurred loss.

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply For The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)?

Before applying, it’s important to understand who qualifies for the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme. The eligibility criteria are designed to ensure that genuine and affected farmers benefit from this initiative.

All farmers growing notified crops.
Such crops should be grown in a notified area.
Farmers should have insurable interest in such crops.
There should be unanticipated weather conditions.

How To Apply For Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS): A Step-By-Step Guide

Applying for the WBCIS apply online is a simple process through the WBCIS portal, but it requires accurate details during submission. Here’s how farmers can register and check their WBCIS status:

Step 1: Visit the official website of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Step 2: Click on the Farmer Corner option.

Step 3: Log in with your mobile number or enter as a guest farmer.

Step 4: Fill in the requisite details.

Step 5: In case you are already registered and wish to report crop loss, click on the report crop loss option and provide the relevant details.

Step 6: You can check the status of your application here.

Documents Required For The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme Complete

To ensure a smooth and successful application, the following documents are required:

Aadhaar Card
Proof of Land Ownership or Lease Agreement
Crop Sowing Certificate (if applicable)
Bank Account Details (for claim transfer)
Passport-size Photograph
Weather impact report (if available)

Conclusion

The Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) plays a vital role in protecting Indian farmers from the unpredictable impacts of climate change. By providing financial stability, transparency through the WBCIS portal, and easy access to compensation via the WBCIS apply online, it strengthens farmers’ trust in the system.

To stay informed about such government schemes, sarkari yojanas, and agricultural insurance policies, visit Jaagruk Bharat — India’s leading citizen awareness platform. Join the community now to get regular updates on the WBCIS status, government policies, and more schemes that empower India’s farmers.

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