Bangla Shasya Bima 2026: Current Status, PMFBY Switch, Status Check and Claims for Bengal Farmers
For six years, Bangla Shasya Bima (BSB), also called the Bangla Fasal Bima Yojana, was West Bengal's own crop insurance scheme. Farmers paid nothing: the state government paid the full premium. In 2026, that picture changed. West Bengal rejoined the central Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), announced on 20 June 2026, and more than 32 lakh farmers enrolled under PMFBY for the Kharif 2026 season, according to news reports.
If you are a farmer, a farmer producer organisation (FPO), an agri-input dealer or a cooperative in Bengal, this guide explains where BSB stands now, how to check old BSB applications and claims, and how to get crop insurance for the current season.
Quick answer: Bangla Shasya Bima was West Bengal's free crop insurance scheme, run through banglashasyabima.wb.gov.in from Kharif 2019. In June 2026, the state rejoined PMFBY, under which farmers pay a small premium (2% for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi, 5% for commercial and horticultural crops). Enrolment for Kharif 2026 happened under PMFBY. Farmers with BSB policies from Kharif 2025 or Rabi 2025-26 can still check their certificate and claim status on the BSB portal.
What Was Bangla Shasya Bima?
The West Bengal government withdrew from PMFBY before Kharif 2019 and launched its own state-funded scheme. Its main features were:
| Feature | Bangla Shasya Bima |
| Who could join | All farmers in West Bengal, including loanee and non-loanee farmers, sharecroppers and tenant farmers |
| Farmer's premium | Nil (fully paid by the state) |
| Crops | Notified crops such as Aman and Aus paddy, maize and jute (Kharif); wheat, potato, mustard, lentil, gram and others (Rabi) |
| Risks covered | Natural calamities such as flood, drought, cyclone, hailstorm, unseasonal rain and pest attack |
| Not covered | Losses caused by animals (one reason cited by experts for the move to PMFBY) |
| Portal | banglashasyabima.wb.gov.in |
Bangla Shasya Bima vs PMFBY in 2026
| Basis | Bangla Shasya Bima (till Rabi 2025-26) | PMFBY in West Bengal (from Kharif 2026) |
| Funded by | State government only | Centre and state share the subsidy |
| Farmer's premium | Nil | 2% (Kharif), 1.5% (Rabi), 5% (commercial / horticultural) of sum insured |
| Application | BSB portal, block offices, Duare Sarkar camps | PMFBY portal, banks, Common Service Centres (CSCs), agriculture offices, insurance agents |
| Claim payment | Through the state system | Direct Benefit Transfer to bank accounts |
| Wild animal damage | Not covered | Add-on coverage available in PMFBY for wild animal attacks, subject to state notification |
BSB Status Check for Old Applications
If you enrolled in BSB for an earlier season, such as Kharif 2025 or Rabi 2025-26:
- Visit banglashasyabima.wb.gov.in.
- Open the application status option and enter your Application ID.
- To download your insurance certificate, use the Farmer's Corner, which allows a search using your voter card number.
BSB claim status
For pending BSB claims:
- Check the claim status in the Farmer's Corner on the portal.
- Contact the insurance company named for that season. News and guide sites list SBI General Insurance for Kharif 2025, and Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) for other seasons.
- Contact your Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) at the block level if the claim amount has not reached your bank account.
The BSB portal lists helpline numbers for technical and claim-related queries. Use only numbers shown on the official portal.
How to Apply for Crop Insurance Now (PMFBY)
Documents generally required
- Aadhaar card
- Bank passbook (account linked with Aadhaar for DBT)
- Land records (khatian / record of rights), or a sharecropper / tenant declaration as per state rules
- Sowing certificate or self-declaration of the crop sown
- Mobile number for OTP
Ways to apply
- Loanee farmers: Banks usually enrol farmers with crop loans (KCC) automatically, unless they opt out within the specified time.
- Non-loanee farmers: Apply on the PMFBY portal (pmfby.gov.in), the Crop Insurance app, a Common Service Centre, or your bank branch.
- Through agriculture offices and authorised insurance intermediaries.
Last date for enrolment
PMFBY cut-off dates are notified season-wise by the state. For Kharif 2026, the national deadline was extended to 15 August 2026 in many states. For Rabi 2026-27, check the state notification; the cut-off for many Rabi crops is usually around 31 December, but it varies by crop and district.
Premium Example Under PMFBY
Assume a Burdwan farmer insures 1 acre of Aman paddy with a sum insured of ₹40,000 (illustrative; the actual sum insured is notified district-wise).
| Item | Amount |
| Sum insured | ₹40,000 |
| Farmer's premium @ 2% (Kharif) | ₹800 |
| Balance premium | Paid by Centre and state |
Under BSB, the same farmer would have paid nothing. The trade-off under PMFBY is a wider set of covered risks, DBT claim settlement and national-level oversight.
Common Mistakes Farmers Make
Assuming BSB enrolment continues automatically. New seasons are now under PMFBY; check before the cut-off date.
Missing the crop loss intimation window. Under PMFBY, localised losses (hailstorm, inundation, post-harvest losses from unseasonal rain) should be reported within 72 hours through the Crop Insurance app, the toll-free number, the bank or the agriculture office.
Using unofficial websites. Only use banglashasyabima.wb.gov.in and pmfby.gov.in. Never pay anyone for "registration" on these portals.
Mismatched bank details. Claim payments fail if the Aadhaar-bank link or IFSC is wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Bangla Shasya Bima still running in 2026? West Bengal rejoined PMFBY in June 2026, and Kharif 2026 enrolment took place under PMFBY. The BSB portal remains available for checking earlier seasons' applications and certificates. Confirm the current status with your block agriculture office.
2. Was Bangla Shasya Bima free? Yes. The state government paid the full premium under BSB.
3. How much premium do farmers pay under PMFBY in West Bengal? 2% of the sum insured for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops.
4. How can I check my old BSB status? Enter your Application ID in the status section of banglashasyabima.wb.gov.in, or download your certificate from the Farmer's Corner using your voter card number.
5. Which crops were covered under BSB? Notified crops including Aman and Aus paddy, maize and jute in Kharif, and wheat, potato, mustard, lentil and gram in Rabi.
6. Can sharecroppers get crop insurance? Sharecroppers and tenant farmers were covered under BSB and can enrol under PMFBY with the required declaration, as per state rules.
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