PIB News Update: Being Central Sector Scheme, State-wise allocation/release is not made under PMFBY/RWBCIS. Funds are released to the Central fund routing agency i.e. Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC) which in turn releases the Central Government’s share in premium subsidy on receipt of respective State Government’s share, to the concerned insurance companies. Details of funds allocated and released/ utilized during 2016-17 to 2020-21 and funds allocated for the year 2020-21 are given in following table :
(Rs. in Crore)
| Year | Budget Estimates | Revised Estimates | Actual Release |
| 2016-17 | 5501.15 | 13240.04 | 11054.63 |
| 2017-18 | 9000.75 | 10701.26 | 9419.79 |
| 2018-19 | 13014.15 | 12983.1 | 11945.3886 |
| 2019-20 | 14000.00 | 13640.85 | 12638.32 |
| 2020-21 | 15695.00 | 15307.25 | 13902.79 |
As regards profit and loss of insurance companies, it is informed that most of the general insurance companies except Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC) are doing different types of businesses/policies. Thus overall profit/loss of these companies is due to profit/loss in overall underwriting business of the company. However, crop insurance is a major risk mitigation tool for the benefit of farmers. Insurance is all about spreading the risk over the period and over the area. As per provisions of the PMFBY/RWBCIS, premium from farmers alongwith Central and State Government share in premium subsidy is paid to the concerned insurance company for acceptance of risk and payment of claims as per provision of scheme. Insurers save premium in good seasons/years and pay high claims, if any in bad years from the savings made in the good years. Year-wise details of total premium paid under the scheme and claims paid by insurance companies since inception of the scheme are given in following table :
(Rs. in Crore)
| Year | Premium Paid to Insurance Companies | Total Claims |
| 2016-17 | 21573.26 | 16773.20 |
| 2017-18 | 24652.02 | 22117.38 |
| 2018-19 | 29356.81 | 28360.55 |
| 2019-20 | 31929.77 | 24562.86 |
(data as on 01.03.2021)
In this regard, it is also informed that the difference between premium collected and claims paid may not be the margin/profit for the insurance companies. The cost of reinsurance and administrative cost totaling 10% to 12% of gross premium also has to be borne by the Insurance Companies. Further, out of the total crop insurance business under the scheme about 50% is shared by the 5 Public Sector insurance companies including Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.