Frost Damage Claim Under PMFBY: 72-Hour Rule Explained

Frost Damage Claim under PMFBY: Is Frost Covered, the 72-Hour Rule and How to Claim

In the official PMFBY texts I could read, frost and cold wave are not named as a covered peril. The localized-calamity list is hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst and natural fire. The 72-hour reporting rule belongs to that list and to post-harvest loss. Widespread frost loss can show up only as a yield shortfall in your notified area, settled after crop-cutting experiments. Still report any loss within 72 hours and check your state notification.

Is frost covered under PMFBY? What the official lists say

The answer depends on which of four cover types applies. Here are the exact words from the official texts (original guidelines ↗ and PIB FAQ ↗):

Cover type	Exact wording	Frost named?
Standing crop (yield loss)	"Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks, such as (i) Natural Fire and Lightning (ii) Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado etc. (iii) Flood, Inundation and Landslide (iv) Drought, Dry spells (v) Pests/Diseases etc."	No
Localized calamities (single farm)	"identified localized risks i.e. hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms in the notified area"	No
Post-harvest	Up to 14 days from harvesting for crops kept in "cut and spread" condition, against specific perils of cyclone, cyclonic rain and unseasonal rain (hailstorm added later)	No
Prevented sowing	Majority of insured farmers prevented from sowing by adverse weather, up to 25% of sum insured. The original text makes this cover available in Kharif for recognised rain-fed areas.	No

The later, revamped guidelines are quoted in an Odisha government resolution (Odisha resolution ↗). It lists localized risks as "hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloud burst and natural fire due to lightning", and basic cover as drought, dry spells, flood, inundation, widespread pest and disease attack, landslide, fire due to lightning, storm, hailstorm and cyclone. Frost is absent from both. The 2018 revision note from PIB confirms that cloudburst and natural fire were added to the localized list (PIB note on 2018 revisions ↗).

WHAT ABOUT INSURER PAGES THAT SAY FROST IS COVERED? Some insurer pages do say so. The Kshema blog says the scheme "compensates losses from frost, hailstorms and unseasonal rainfall during Rabi season" (Kshema blog ↗). The IFFCO-Tokio page mentions frost only in its introduction about weather risks, and its own list of localized risks names only hailstorm, landslide and inundation (IFFCO-Tokio page ↗). These are commercial pages, not the guidelines. Do not rely on them for a claim. Ask your insurer for the notified perils for your crop and district in writing.

I could not open the full 2020 and 2023 operational guidelines, and I found no state rabi notification that lists frost or cold wave for any crop. One summary suggests states cannot add perils beyond the central list. So please check Sections 5 and 21 of the current guidelines on the PMFBY portal ↗.

Which route can pay for frost damage?

Loss type	How it is assessed	Can frost fit here?
Localized calamity (hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst, natural fire)	Assessed for a cluster of affected farms or village; the District Administration helps the insurer; each farmer is settled individually	No, frost is not on the list
Post-harvest loss (cut and spread crop)	Farm-level assessment	No
Area yield shortfall	If actual yield per hectare falls short of the threshold yield, all insured farmers growing that crop in the area are deemed to have suffered shortfall	Possibly. A Rajya Sabha answer is reported to say claims follow season-end yield data regardless of the reason for loss. This is a summary, so verify.
Mid-season adversity	The insurer decides on an on-account payment where expected yield is likely below 50% of normal. The PIB FAQ says up to 25% of sum insured, while the original text says up to 25% of likely claims. It is not used within 1 month of the start of normal sowing or within 15 days before normal harvest (Odisha resolution).	The listed events are floods, prolonged dry spells, severe drought and unseasonal rain. Frost is not named.

The threshold yield was changed in 2018 to use the moving average of the best 5 of the last 7 years. Farmers choose among 70%, 80% and 90% indemnity levels in the original rules, although some states fix a single level. Odisha, for example, used 70% for all crops.

What is the 72-hour rule and who do you tell?

PIB records that in 2018 the time for a farmer to inform about an individual claim was extended to 72 hours, instead of 48, through any stakeholder or directly on the portal. This applies to localized calamities and post-harvest loss. You can inform:

· The Crop Insurance app, with geo-tagged photos.

· The national helpline 14447, which a news report says sends an SMS ticket. A second source gave a different number, so confirm it on the official portal.

· The insurance company call centre, your bank branch, or the agriculture or revenue official, who must forward your report within 48 hours (as reported by a news site).

A March 2026 news report lists what to give: your name, survey-wise area, crop, application number, mobile number and bank details. Take geo-tagged, time-stamped photos and video. Keep your Aadhaar, passbook or Kisan Credit Card, land record, sowing receipt and PMFBY acknowledgement (GoodReturns report ↗). If you miss 72 hours, secondary sources say a localized claim is often rejected. That is not guideline text.

What should you do right after a frost night?

Act on the same day. Even though frost is not a listed localized peril, a quick report creates a dated record. Treat it as a safe step, not a guarantee of payment.

1. Take dated photos and a short video from several spots: leaves, flowers and the soil.

2. Note the date, time and local temperature, if you know it.

3. Report the loss within 72 hours through the app, helpline, insurer, bank or agriculture office. Ask for a ticket number or written acknowledgement.

4. Ask in writing whether frost is a notified peril for your crop and district.

5. Keep papers safe: policy copy, premium receipt, land record, passbook.

6. Protect what is left. See our frost protection guide.

How is the claim paid, and how long does it take?

For an area yield shortfall, the state gives yield data from crop-cutting experiments, the insurer calculates claims and pays them to the bank accounts of eligible farmers. PIB records that insurers must pay 12% a year interest for delay beyond two months from the prescribed cut-off date, and states pay 12% for subsidy delayed beyond three months. A Rajya Sabha answer is reported to say yield claims are paid within 21 days of calculation, and a search snippet says localized claims are paid within 15 days of assessment. I could not open those, so ask your insurer for the due date of your claim.

What changes for Rabi 2026-27?

A May 2026 advisory from the agriculture ministry says existing insurer contracts end with Rabi 2025-26. States may continue the 2023-26 rates and contracts, or tender again for Kharif 2026 and Rabi 2026-27 under the PMFBY Operational Guidelines 2023. All terms of the 2023 guidelines continue to apply, and states must adopt the CLAP app, the CCE Agri app and AgriStack validation (advisory copy ↗). Wild animal attack was added as a fifth add-on under localized risks in late 2025, according to a secondary source, and states notify the animals and districts.

Crop group	Farmer pays
Rabi food grains and oilseeds	1.5% of the sum insured or the actuarial rate, whichever is less
Kharif food grains and oilseeds	2%
Annual commercial and horticultural crops	5%

The rabi cut-off differs by state. Examples seen in news snippets include 15 December 2025 for wheat and barley in Chamba (Himachal), 31 December 2024 in Madhya Pradesh and 15 January 2026 for pulses and vegetables in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I found no official Rabi 2026-27 notice, so check your state. Use our PMFBY rabi enrolment guide for the steps, and the eligibility and benefits guide for who can join. Loan farmers can enrol through their Kisan Credit Card bank.

How often does frost actually hit farmers?

In mid-December 2024, frost damaged mustard and vegetable crops in Hisar, Haryana, and farmers asked for assessment and compensation, but the report names no insurance scheme (The Tribune ↗). In February 2024, cold and fog damaged rabi crops in Bihar, and the state asked districts for damage reports, without a PMFBY mention. The lesson is that relief for frost often comes through state damage surveys rather than a PMFBY claim.

What if a claim is rejected or delayed?

· Ask the insurer for the reason in writing.

· Go to the district-level monitoring committee and the District Collector.

· Use the national grievance portal, pgportal.gov.in, if the district level does not help.

· Keep your ticket number and photos for every step.

These escalation steps are from a secondary farmer guide, so confirm the correct office in your district.

Conclusion

Frost is the gap in PMFBY that many guides skip. The official lists do not name it. A widespread frost loss can only reach you through the area yield shortfall at season end, while individual claims cover hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst and natural fire. Still, photograph the damage, report within 72 hours, ask your insurer for the notified perils in writing and look for state relief. Enrol early, and check the 2023 guidelines on the portal for the final word.

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Questions Farmers Ask

Is frost covered under PMFBY?

Frost is not named in the official PMFBY lists of standing-crop risks or localized calamities that I could read. Localized risks are hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst and natural fire. Widespread frost loss may count only through the area yield shortfall. Check your state notification and insurer in writing.

What is the 72-hour rule in PMFBY?

A 2018 revision gave farmers 72 hours, instead of 48, to inform about an individual claim through any stakeholder or the portal. It applies to localized calamities and post-harvest loss. Report through the Crop Insurance app, the helpline, your insurer, your bank or the agriculture office.

How do I report crop loss under PMFBY?

Use the Crop Insurance app, call the helpline, or tell your insurer, bank or agriculture official within 72 hours. Give your name, survey area, crop, application number and bank details. Take geo-tagged, time-stamped photos and keep your policy copy, land record and passbook.

What is the PMFBY helpline number?

A March 2026 news report gives 14447 as the helpline that issues an SMS ticket. Another source listed a different toll-free number. Confirm the current number on the official PMFBY portal or the Crop Insurance app before you call.

What happens if I miss the 72-hour deadline?

Secondary sources say a localized claim is often rejected if reported late. That is not guideline text. If you are late, still report at once, note the reason for the delay and ask the insurer in writing what is possible.

Is cold wave covered under crop insurance?

Cold wave is not named in the official PMFBY lists I could read. It may affect area yield, which is settled through crop-cutting experiments. Ask your district agriculture office whether your state has notified any extra risk for your crop and season.

How is a PMFBY claim assessed if frost hits the whole area?

The state gives yield data from crop-cutting experiments. If the actual yield per hectare falls short of the threshold yield, all insured farmers growing that crop in the defined area are deemed to have suffered a shortfall, and the insurer calculates and pays claims to bank accounts.

How long does a PMFBY claim take?

PIB records 12% yearly interest payable by insurers for delay beyond two months from the cut-off date. A Rajya Sabha answer is reported to give 21 days from calculation for yield claims. Actual time depends on state yield data, so ask your insurer for your due date.

What is the rabi premium under PMFBY?

For rabi food grains and oilseeds, the farmer pays 1.5% of the sum insured or the actuarial rate, whichever is less. Kharif pays 2%, and commercial and horticultural crops pay 5%. Centre and state share the rest of the premium, usually 50:50.

What is the last date for PMFBY rabi enrolment 2026-27?

The date differs by state. News snippets show examples such as 15 December and 31 December, but I found no official Rabi 2026-27 notice. Check the PMFBY portal, your bank or your agriculture office, and enrol well before the date.

Is PMFBY continuing for Rabi 2026-27?

Yes, on an interim basis. A May 2026 advisory says existing contracts end with Rabi 2025-26, and states can continue the 2023-26 rates or tender again for Kharif 2026 and Rabi 2026-27 under the 2023 operational guidelines. Check your state for its decision.

How can I protect my crop from frost?

Give a light irrigation before a forecast cold night, cover small plots and avoid extra urea in a cold spell. A Punjab agricultural university advisory recommends light irrigation, balanced fertilisers and mulch. See our frost protection guide for crop-wise steps.