Progress in generating unique digital Farmer IDs and use in DBT and satellite-based crop insurance operations
Unique Farmer IDs and satellite-enabled PMFBY operations expand for welfare delivery and crop insurance administration
- Unique Farmer IDs are reported as a mechanism to streamline subsidy delivery and technical advisories, including DBT-linked integration with PM-KISAN and PMFBY.
- YES-TECH is described as generating technology-based crop yield at insurance unit level using satellite remote sensing data and crop yield estimation models for PMFBY.
- Smart Sampling for CCEs is described as using satellite-derived vegetation indices to optimise CCE planning and reduce manual selection bias in PMFBY.
- Namo Drone Didi Scheme training is described as a 15-day programme including obtaining a drone pilot licence for women SHG members, through DGCA-approved RPTOs.
What happened: expansion of unique Farmer IDs and satellite-enabled PMFBY operations
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare reported two linked tracks for agricultural welfare administration. First, the Ministry stated that by 20 July 2026, more than 10.18 crore unique Farmer IDs were created to streamline direct transfer of subsidies and technical advisories. Second, the government outlined satellite-imagery based initiatives integrated into the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to improve yield estimation and claims-related workflows.
Background and earlier position
UPSC can frame digitised farmer identification as a governance enabler for DBT and frame satellite remote sensing as a tool for evidence-backed crop insurance administration, focusing on how it affects sampling, disputes, and claim timelines.
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