PIB 12th January 2021

Contents

1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yajana (PMFBY)
2. 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security Dialogue

PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YAJANA (PMFBY)

Context:

The Indian Government’s Crop Insurance Scheme- The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yajana (PMFBY) has successfully completed 5 Years of operations.

Relevance:

GS-III: Agriculture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
2. Progress made by PMFBY in the 5 years

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

• The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) launched on 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an insurance service for farmers for their yields.
• PMFBY is in line with One Nation – One Scheme theme.
• The PMFBY will replace the existing two schemes National Agricultural Insurance Scheme as well as the Modified NAIS.
• The Scheme shall be implemented through a multi-agency framework by selected insurance companies under the overall guidance & control of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India (GOI) and the concerned State in co-ordination with various other agencies.
• Premium cost over and above the farmer share is equally subsidized by States and the Central Government of India. However, the Central Government shares 90% of the premium subsidy for North Eastern States to promote the uptake in the region.

Objectives

1. To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
2. To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
3. To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
4. To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.

Beneficiaries: All farmers growing notified crops in a notified area during the season who have insurable interest in the crop are eligible.

Coverage of Crops:

1. Oil seeds
2. Food crop
3. Annual Commercial / Annual Horticultural crops.
4. In addition, for perennial crops, pilots for coverage can be taken for those perennial horticultural crops for which standard methodology for yield estimation is available.

Risks covered under the scheme

1. Prevented Sowing/Planting/Germination Risk: Insured area is prevented from sowing/planting/germination due to deficit rainfall or adverse seasonal/weather conditions.
2. Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting): Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks, viz. Drought, Dry spell, Flood, Inundation, widespread Pests and Disease attack, Landslides, Fire due to natural causes, Lightening, Storm, Hailstorm and Cyclone.
3. Post-Harvest Losses: Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting, for those crops which are required to be dried in cut and spread / small bundled condition in the field after harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm, Cyclone, Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
4. Localized Calamities: Loss/damage to notified insured crops resulting from occurrence of identified localized risks of Hailstorm, Landslide, Inundation, Cloud burst and Natural fire due to lightening affecting isolated farms in the notified area.
5. Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals: The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable.
6. General Exclusions: Losses arising out of war and nuclear risks, malicious damage and other preventable risks shall be excluded.

Progress made by PMFBY in the 5 years

• Integration of land records with the PMFBY portal, Crop Insurance mobile-app for easy enrollment of farmers and usage of technology such as satellite imagery, remote-sensing technology, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning to assess crop losses are some of the key features of the scheme.
• The scheme makes it easier for the farmer to report crop loss within 72 hours of occurrence of any event through the Crop Insurance App, CSC Centre or the nearest agriculture officer.
• States have also been provided flexibility to rationalize the sum insured so that adequate benefit can be availed by farmers.
• The Scheme covers over 5.5 crore farmer applications year on year.

13TH INDIA-VIETNAM DEFENCE SECURITY DIALOGUE

Context:

India’s Defence Secretary co-chaired the 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security Dialogue along with his Vietnamese co-chair Deputy Defence Minister, Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Relevance:

GS-II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Highlights of the 13th India-Vietnam Defence
2. India-Vietnam Relations

Highlights of the 13th India-Vietnam Defence

• During their virtual interaction, Defence Secretary and the Deputy Defence Minister expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries in spite of the limitations imposed by COVID 19.
• They expressed satisfaction at the growing defence ties between the two countries. Both the sides reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the Armed Forces under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Both sides agreed that in the recent past our respective countries have made notable strides in Defence Industry and Technology cooperation and look forward to even greater cooperation in this field.

India-Vietnam Relations

• The Republic of India and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam enjoy strong bilateral relations.
• Cultural and economic links between India and Vietnam date back to 2nd century.
• India supported Vietnam’s independence from France.
• India strongly condemned U.S. action during the Vietnam War of 1955 and was also one of the few non-communist countries to assist Vietnam during the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.
• India granted the “Most Favoured Nation” status to Vietnam in 1975 and both nations signed a bilateral trade agreement in 1978 and the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) in 1997.
• In 1992, India and Vietnam established extensive economic ties, including oil exploration, agriculture and manufacturing.
• The Indo-Vietnam Joint Business Council has worked to promote trade and investment since 1993.
• The relations between the two countries, especially defence ties, benefited extensively from India’s Look East policy.
• Bilateral military cooperation includes sale of military equipment, sharing of intelligence, joint naval exercises and training in counterinsurgency and jungle warfare.
• India also regularly deploys its warships for goodwill visits to Vietnamese seas.
• India is the 13th-largest exporter to Vietnam, with exports that have grown steadily for the past few decades.
• Vietnam’s exports to India include: agricultural products, handicrafts, textiles, electronics and other goods.