Launch of Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) and PMFBY Updates
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Schemes
Why in news
The government launched WINDS to create hyperlocal weather data for crop insurance and disaster risk adaptation. Additionally, updates on PMFBY include the Yes-Tech yield assessment system, DigiClaim module, and mandatory escrow accounts to improve claim settlement.
Background
WINDS is a national network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) to generate long-term hyperlocal weather data. PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme for farmers.
Key facts
WINDS adopted by 7 states/UTs: Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
Installation approved at 16,843 sites; civil works completed at 1,188 sites; 892 AWS/ARG installed.
Yes-Tech (Technology-based Yield Assessment System) implemented from Kharif 2023 for paddy and wheat, and from Kharif 2024 for soybean.
Yes-Tech yield given mandatory 30% weightage; Madhya Pradesh uses 100% weightage, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh 50%, Odisha and Karnataka 40%.
National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) developed as single source for data, including subsidy payment, farmer enrollment, and claim transfer.
DigiClaim module operational from Kharif 2022 for timely claim processing; integrates NCIP with PFMS and insurance companies' accounting systems.
From Kharif 2024, automatic 12% penalty on insurance companies for delayed payment.
From Kharif 2025, 12% penalty on state governments for delayed subsidy release; escrow account mandatory for state premium share.
CCE Agri-App used for collecting crop cutting experiment data; CLAP (Crop Loss Assessment App) mandatory for local disaster/post-harvest loss assessment.
Prelims pointers
- WINDS: Weather Information Network and Data System
- AWS: Automatic Weather Station
- ARG: Automatic Rain Gauge
- Yes-Tech: Technology-based Yield Assessment System
- PMFBY: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
- NCIP: National Crop Insurance Portal
- PFMS: Public Financial Management System
- DigiClaim Module
- CCE Agri-App
- CLAP: Crop Loss Assessment App
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of technology in improving crop insurance and agricultural risk management in India.
- Critically examine the effectiveness of PMFBY in ensuring timely claim settlement and farmer welfare.
- Analyze the significance of hyperlocal weather data networks like WINDS for disaster management and agriculture.