Lucknow: Authorities have detected 1.63 lakh fake applications under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana across the Rabi and Kharif seasons in Uttar Pradesh, exposing large-scale irregularities in the crop insurance process. Following verification, officials from the Agriculture and Revenue Departments have excluded the fraudulent applications from insurance coverage and tightened scrutiny across affected districts.
Verification Exposes Large-Scale Discrepancies
According to officials, the irregularities were detected during a detailed re-verification exercise of crop insurance applications. The inquiry found that several applications had been submitted using incorrect land records, fake ownership claims and, in some cases, without any actual agricultural land.
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The highest number of fraudulent applications was reported from Bundelkhand, particularly Mahoba and Lalitpur districts. Other districts where discrepancies were detected include Jhansi, Farrukhabad, Mathura, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Banda and Chitrakoot.
In the Kharif 2025 season, around 1.16 lakh applications were found to be fake after verification, despite 72.95 lakh applications having been approved earlier. In the Rabi 2025-26 season, nearly 47,000 additional applications were flagged as fraudulent or suspicious and cancelled.
Riverbeds, Railway Land And Barren Plots Used
Officials said several applicants had either misreported land ownership or registered insurance for land that did not qualify as agricultural land. Verification also revealed cases where insurance applications were filed for riverbeds, railway land and barren plots.
Authorities believe the findings point to a coordinated network involving intermediaries, agents and some Common Service Center operators. These individuals are suspected of helping applicants submit false documentation for financial gain.
Officials said scrutiny has now been intensified, and repeated fraudulent applications will invite strict legal action, including the filing of FIRs. Common Service Centers suspected of repeated irregularities will also face closer examination.
Recovery And Legal Action Underway
The crackdown followed media reports that first highlighted irregularities in the scheme. Subsequent investigations led to arrests in some cases and recovery proceedings against individuals found guilty of submitting fraudulent claims.
Administrative sources said stricter verification introduced after the initial Kharif scrutiny led to a decline in fake applications during the Rabi season. However, the continued detection of thousands of suspicious cases has highlighted weaknesses in the registration and verification process.
Officials are now working to recover misappropriated funds in confirmed cases and identify others involved in the alleged fraud. Further action against individuals and institutions linked to the irregularities is expected as the investigation progresses.
