- ₹20Premium a yearSince 1 June 2022
- ₹2 LAccidental death or total disability
- ₹1 LPartial disability
- 18 to 70Age to join
What is PMSBY? Full form and scheme details
PMSBY stands for Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. "Suraksha" means safety and "bima" means insurance. It is an accident insurance scheme of the Government of India, run by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. It started on 9 May 2015.
The cover lasts one year, from 1 June to 31 May, and renews every year. You join through your bank or post office savings account. The bank or post office is the policy holder for all its members, and a general insurance company pays the claims. By 28 February 2025, total enrolments had crossed 50.15 crore, says the Department of Financial Services.
- Step 1Give consent onceFill a short form at your bank or post office, or use net banking.
- Step 2Premium is auto-debited₹20 a year, taken from your account before 1 June.
- Step 3Covered for one yearUp to ₹2,00,000 if an accident causes death or disability.
Example: Suresh, 34. He is a delivery rider in Pune with a savings account. He joins PMSBY at his bank. Each May, ₹20 is taken from his account. In 10 years he pays ₹200 in all, and each year he has ₹2,00,000 of accident cover.
- Premium a year
- ₹20
- Premium in 10 years
- ₹200
- Cover each year
- ₹2,00,000
PMSBY cover: what you get
PMSBY pays a fixed amount. It does not depend on your income or your bills. "Accident" means a sudden, unexpected event caused by outside, violent and visible means, such as a road crash, a fall, drowning or a snake bite.
| Type | What happened | PMSBY pays |
|---|---|---|
| Death | Death due to an accident | ₹2,00,000 |
| Total permanent disability | Total loss of both eyes, or loss of use of both hands or both feet, or loss of sight of one eye and loss of use of one hand or foot | ₹2,00,000 |
| Partial permanent disability | Total loss of sight of one eye, or loss of use of one hand or one foot | ₹1,00,000 |
- "Total and irrecoverable" means the loss is complete and cannot be cured.
- Only one PMSBY claim is paid for one person, even if the premium was taken from two accounts.
- Disability money goes into the insured person's own account. Death money goes to the nominee or legal heirs.
- PMSBY is paid on top of any other insurance you have.
- NRIs with an eligible account at a bank branch in India can join. Claims are paid only in rupees.
Example: Ravi, 52. A truck hits his scooter in Nashik. He loses the use of his right hand for good. He has PMSBY through his bank. With the FIR, the Civil Surgeon's disability certificate and the hospital record, his claim is for partial disability.
- Premium he paid
- ₹20
- Claim paid
- ₹1,00,000
- If both hands
- ₹2,00,000
What is not covered under PMSBY
- Yes: Road, rail and other vehicle accidents
- Yes: Drowning, falls and snake bite
- Yes: Floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters
- Yes: Murder
- No: Death from illness or natural causes (only accidents are covered)
- No: Suicide
- No: Hospital bills and treatment costs
- No: Injury or disability that is not one of the losses in the table (for example an injury that heals)
- No: A missing person whose death is not proved by documents
- No: A second claim for the same person through another bank or post office account
PMSBY covers death from accidents only. For cover against death from any cause, including illness, see Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY).
PMSBY eligibility and age limit
- Yes: Age 18 (completed) to 70
- Yes: A savings account in a participating bank or the post office
- Yes: Each holder of a joint account (each pays a premium)
- Yes: NRIs with an eligible account at a bank branch in India
- Yes: People who left the scheme earlier and want to join again
- No: People under 18 or over 70
- No: Institutional accounts (companies, trusts, societies)
- No: A second PMSBY cover through another account
Aadhaar is the main KYC for the bank or post office account used for PMSBY.
How to join PMSBY
- Step 1Visit your bank or post officeThe branch, a bank agent (BC point) or the post office where you have a savings account.
- Step 2Or use net bankingMany banks let you join PMSBY in net banking or the mobile app.
- Step 3Fill the consent formThe PMSBY enrolment and auto-debit form, in Hindi, English and other languages on jansuraksha.gov.in.
- Step 4Name a nomineeThe person who gets the money if you die in an accident.
- Step 5Keep ₹20 in the accountThe premium is debited and your cover starts.
- Step 6Keep the slipThe acknowledgement slip is your certificate of insurance.
Joining only goes through your own bank or post office. The forms are free on the official Jan Suraksha portal. Do not pay anyone extra to join: the only charge is the yearly premium.
PMSBY cover year, renewal and when cover stops
The cover stops and no claim is paid:
- When you reach age 70 (age nearer birthday, so about 6 months before your 70th birthday).
- When you close the bank or post office account.
- When there is not enough balance for the premium on the due date. The cover is suspended. It can start again when the full premium is paid, on the insurer's terms.
- For any second cover, if the premium was taken from two accounts by mistake. Only one cover counts.
To stop PMSBY, ask your bank or post office to cancel the auto-debit. You can join again in a later year in the same way.
PMSBY claim process
- Step 1Report the accidentTell the police for road or rail accidents, drowning or crime. For snake bite or a fall, keep the hospital record.
- Step 2Go to the bank or post officeWhere the insured person had the PMSBY account. Ask for the PMSBY claim form.
- Step 3Submit the formPreferably within 30 days of the accident, with all documents.
- Step 4Bank sends it onThe bank checks its records and sends the claim to the insurance company.
- Step 5Money is paidInto the insured person's account (disability) or the nominee's account (death).
Who files the claim: the insured person files for disability. For death, the nominee files. If the nominee is a minor, the appointee files. If there is no nominee, or the nominee died first, the legal heirs file.
The official form asks for the claim "preferably within 30 days" of the accident. Ask the branch for a claim reference and keep a copy of everything you submit.
PMSBY claim documents
| Claim | Documents |
|---|---|
| All claims | Claim-cum-discharge form, filled and signed; KYC of the claimant: Aadhaar, voter ID, MGNREGA card, driving licence, PAN or passport; First two pages of the passbook, a bank statement or a cancelled cheque of the claimant's account; Advance receipt for discharge of claim, filled and signed |
| Accidental death | Proof of death: death certificate, or hospital discharge summary, or a certificate from the last doctor who treated the person; FIR or panchnama (police report); Post-mortem report. Or a certificate from the District Magistrate, Collector or an Executive Magistrate (such as SDM or Tehsildar) in the set format |
| Death by snake bite, fall from tree and similar | For snake bite, fall from a tree and similar accidents: a hospital record giving the name, date, time and cause of death |
| Permanent disability | FIR or panchnama; Disability certificate from the Civil Surgeon; Hospital record that supports it |
| No nominee | Legal heirs (when there is no nominee) also need a succession certificate or legal heir certificate |
| Nominee died before the insured | Proof of death of the nominee |
Aadhaar and PAN of the insured person and the claimant are useful but not compulsory on the claim form.
PMSBY nominee
- Step 1Name a nomineeIn the enrolment form. Ask your branch how to change it later.
- Step 2Minor nomineeName an appointee, who claims for the child.
- Step 3No nomineeLegal heirs claim with a succession or legal heir certificate, which takes longer.
- Step 4Check itAsk your bank which nominee is recorded for your PMSBY.
PMSBY: strengths and limits
- Yes: Very low premium of ₹20 a year
- Yes: Open from age 18 up to age 70
- Yes: Renews by itself through auto-debit
- Yes: Paid on top of any other insurance
- No: Accidents only, no cover for illness
- No: No hospital bills paid
- No: Fixed ₹2 L maximum
- No: Cover stops if the balance is short on the debit date
PMSBY vs PMJJBY
PMSBY and PMJJBY are the two government insurance schemes run through bank accounts. They cover different things, and a person can be in both.
| PMSBY | PMJJBY | |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana | Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana |
| Type | Accident insurance | Life insurance |
| Pays on | Death or disability from an accident | Death from any cause |
| Cover | ₹2,00,000 (₹1,00,000 partial disability) | ₹2,00,000 |
| Premium a year | ₹20 | ₹436 |
| Age to join | 18 to 70 | 18 to 50 |
| Cover ends at | Age 70 | Age 55 |
| Waiting period | None | 30 days for non-accident death for new members |
| Joining late in the year | Full premium | Lower premium for later months |
| Insurer | General insurance companies | LIC and other life insurers |
| Cover year | 1 June to 31 May | 1 June to 31 May |
Example: Meena, 38, in both schemes. She pays ₹20 for PMSBY and ₹436 for PMJJBY from the same account. If she dies in an accident, her nominee can claim from both schemes. If she dies of an illness, only PMJJBY pays.
- Both premiums a year
- ₹456
- Accidental death
- ₹4,00,000
- Death from illness
- ₹2,00,000
Read the full rules on the PMJJBY scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of PMSBY?
PMSBY stands for Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. It is a Government of India accident insurance scheme. It gives ₹2,00,000 cover for death or total disability from an accident, and ₹1,00,000 for partial disability, for ₹20 a year.
What is the PMSBY premium in 2026?
₹20 a year for each person. It has been ₹20 since 1 June 2022. The bank or post office takes it from your account by auto-debit once a year, usually in May.
Is the PMSBY premium still ₹12?
No. The premium was ₹12 a year from the start of the scheme in 2015 up to 31 May 2022. The government raised it to ₹20 from 1 June 2022, the first change since launch. The cover amounts did not change. If your bank still shows ₹12 in old passbook entries, those are debits from before June 2022.
What is the age limit for PMSBY?
You can join from age 18 (completed) up to age 70. The cover stops when you reach age 70 by "age nearer birthday", which means about 6 months before your 70th birthday.
What does PMSBY cover?
Death from an accident (₹2,00,000), total permanent disability such as loss of both eyes or both hands or feet (₹2,00,000), and partial permanent disability such as loss of one eye or the use of one hand or foot (₹1,00,000). Deaths and injuries from floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, and from murder, are also covered.
What is not covered under PMSBY?
Death from illness, suicide, hospital bills, and injuries that do not cause one of the permanent losses in the benefit table. A missing person is covered only when the death is proved by documents.
How do I claim PMSBY?
Go to the bank or post office where the insured person had the account. Fill in the PMSBY claim-cum-discharge form, preferably within 30 days of the accident, and attach the documents. The bank checks its records and sends the claim to the insurance company. The money is paid into the bank account of the insured person (for disability) or the nominee (for death).
What documents are needed for a PMSBY death claim?
The claim form, proof of death (death certificate, hospital record or doctor's certificate), FIR or panchnama, post-mortem report, the nominee's KYC and bank details, and a signed advance discharge receipt. For snake bite or a fall from a tree, a hospital record giving the cause of death can be used instead of the police papers.
Who gets the PMSBY money if the account holder dies?
The nominee named in the enrolment form. If the nominee is a minor, the appointee claims for them. If there is no nominee, or the nominee died first, the legal heirs can claim with a succession certificate or legal heir certificate.
Can I join PMSBY from two bank accounts?
No. You can join through one bank or post office account only. If the premium is taken from two accounts by mistake, only one cover counts and only one claim is paid. The extra premium can be forfeited.
Can I join PMSBY after 31 May?
Yes. You can join at any time by paying the full ₹20. The cover starts on the date the premium is debited and ends on 31 May. It then renews on 1 June if you keep the auto-debit on.
What is the difference between PMSBY and PMJJBY?
PMSBY pays only for death or disability from an accident, for ₹20 a year, age 18 to 70. PMJJBY is life insurance that pays ₹2,00,000 for death from any cause, for ₹436 a year, joining age 18 to 50. A person can be in both schemes at the same time.