Will the SOG Investigate PMFBY Irregularities in Rajasthan?
Synopsis
The Rajasthan Agriculture Minister has disclosed alarming fraud involving insurance companies under PMFBY, affecting farmers across the state. With investigations led by the SOG, the government aims to address these serious irregularities and secure timely payments for affected farmers. Stay tuned for updates on this crucial story.
Key Takeaways
Serious irregularities identified under PMFBY.
Special Operations Group to investigate fraud cases.
Insurance claim payments delayed due to documentation issues .
Government has paid Rs 6,328 crore in claims.
Fraudulent activities reported in multiple districts .
Jaipur, Feb 16 (NationPress) Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister, Dr Kirodi Lal Meena, announced in the Assembly on Monday that significant irregularities involving insurance companies have been uncovered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) across various districts in the state. He assured the assembly that the Special Operations Group (SOG) would conduct an investigation into these fraud cases.
The Minister highlighted that some farmers are facing delays in receiving insurance claim payments due to several factors, including non-verification of bank accounts and Aadhaar, the death of the insured farmer, and failures in NEFT transactions. He instructed the relevant District Collectors to expedite the verification of bank accounts, Aadhaar authentication, succession certificates, and other necessary documentation.
He assured that payments would be processed swiftly upon completion of all required formalities. The Minister stated that the current government has disbursed Rs 6,328 crore in crop insurance claims to farmers for both the Rabi and Kharif seasons.
Among these, Rs 188 crore remains pending from the previous administration.
During Question Hour, the Minister responded to supplementary queries posed by MLA Babu Singh Rathore.
He revealed that fraudulent activities by banks and insurance companies have been identified under PMFBY, which has resulted in farmers not receiving compensation for crop damages.
During an inspection in Karanpur, located in the Sri Ganganagar district, it was discovered that a surveyor from an insurance company had forged signatures belonging to the farmer, agriculture supervisor, and revenue officer on the notification form.
Out of 1.7 lakh forms reviewed, 32,000 notification forms reported zero percent crop damage for farmers, while the actual damage ranged from 50 to 70 percent.
This discrepancy has led to losses amounting to approximately Rs 128 crore for farmers.
An FIR has been lodged in Rawla, and police are currently investigating the situation.
The company Kshema Insurance has been found prima facie liable, and a letter has been dispatched to the Central government to prevent the company from securing future tenders.
The Agriculture Minister expressed that measures would be taken to ensure the recovery of Rs 122 crore for farmers through hearings at the State Level Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC).
Additionally, he pointed to another fraud case in Salasar, where 71 bank accounts were opened at SBI in the names of farmers using forged documents.
These accounts bore names identical to those of farmers and their relatives, lacking any other supporting documents at the bank.
Savings accounts were fraudulently created to facilitate the deduction of insurance premiums.
This deception could have resulted in wrongful payments totaling Rs 9 crore from both the Central and state governments.
The name of AIC Company has also emerged in this case, and an FIR has been filed.
He further informed that similar irregularities have been reported in Sanchore, Jalore, Churu, Nagaur, and Bikaner.
Instances of underreported crop damage have also been cited in the Shergarh Assembly constituency.
Earlier, in a written response to the original inquiry by MLA Shri Rathore, the Agriculture Minister indicated that under PMFBY, in the Shergarh Assembly constituency, Rs 42.62 lakh in crop insurance claims concerning 659 eligible farmers from Kharif 2020 to Rabi 2024–25 are pending due to issues with bank account verification, Aadhaar complications, NEFT failures, and the deaths of insured farmers.
He added that due to objections from insurance companies regarding crop-cutting experiments, 23 crop patwar circles are currently under review by the State Level Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).
The Minister stated that pending claims for 659 eligible farmers in Shergarh are in the process of being distributed through the DG Claim Module of the National Crop Insurance Portal following bank account verification.
He further shared that the technical yield data dated February 10, 2026, has been received from the Government of India for the 23 pending crop patwar circles, and the cases will be resolved in the upcoming STAC meeting.
Point of View
The situation surrounding PMFBY in Rajasthan underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in agricultural insurance schemes. It is crucial that authorities act decisively to protect farmers from fraudulent practices that undermine their livelihoods. The involvement of the SOG signals a serious approach to addressing these issues, which is essential for restoring trust in these vital programs.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)?
PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme launched by the Indian government to provide financial support to farmers in the event of crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases.
What irregularities have been reported under PMFBY in Rajasthan?
Significant frauds involving forged documents and false reporting of crop damage have been reported, affecting farmers' insurance claims.
What actions are being taken against the fraudulent activities?
The Special Operations Group (SOG) is investigating the irregularities, and FIRs have been lodged against the involved companies.
What measures will be taken to ensure farmers receive their payments?
The government is expediting the verification process for claims and ensuring that payments are made promptly once all necessary documentation is completed.
How much money has been paid to farmers under PMFBY?
The current government has disbursed Rs 6,328 crore in crop insurance claims to farmers for both Rabi and Kharif seasons.
