An accident can happen to anyone, anywhere — a road mishap, a fall at a construction site, or a farming accident. Most families in India, especially daily-wage earners and small farmers, have no financial cushion for such an event. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is the government's answer: an accident insurance cover of up to ₹2 lakh for just ₹20 a year. This guide explains, in plain language, who can join, how to enrol online or offline, and how a family can file a claim.
What is PMSBY?
PMSBY is a government-backed personal accident insurance scheme launched on 9 May 2015 under the Jan Suraksha umbrella (along with PMJJBY and Atal Pension Yojana). It pays a lump sum to the account holder or their nominee in case of accidental death or disability. It is not a life insurance policy — it covers only accidents, not death by illness or natural causes.
| Annual Premium | ₹20 per year, auto-debited from your bank account |
| Accidental Death / Total Disability | ₹2,00,000 |
| Partial Disability (loss of one eye/limb) | ₹1,00,000 |
| Eligible Age | 18 to 70 years |
| Policy Period | 1 June to 31 May, renewed every year |
| Who Can Enrol | Anyone with a savings bank or post office account and auto-debit consent |
Eligibility Criteria
- ●Age must be between 18 and 70 years on the date of enrolment
- ●Must hold an individual or joint savings bank account, or a post office savings account
- ●Account must allow auto-debit for the ₹20 annual premium
- ●Aadhaar-linked bank account is preferred for smooth KYC and renewal
- ●Only one PMSBY policy is allowed per person, even if you have accounts in multiple banks
Every savings account holder can hold only one PMSBY policy at a time. Enrolling through more than one bank using the same Aadhaar can lead to your claim being rejected later, so check with your bank before signing up again.
How to Enrol Online via Net Banking
- 1Log in to your bank's official internet banking portal (for example, https://retail.onlinesbi.sbi for SBI, or your bank's equivalent) using your User ID and Password.
- 2On the dashboard, click the 'e-Services' menu and select 'Social Security Schemes'.
- 3Choose 'Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)' from the list of schemes shown.
- 4Fill in your nominee's full name, relationship with you, and date of birth in the nomination section.
- 5Tick the self-declaration checkbox confirming your age is between 18 and 70 and that you do not hold another PMSBY policy elsewhere.
- 6Click the 'Submit' button to authorise the ₹20 yearly premium auto-debit from your linked savings account.
- 7On the confirmation screen, click 'Download Certificate' to save your PMSBY enrolment acknowledgement for future reference.
How to Enrol Offline at a Bank Branch
- 1Visit the branch of the bank or post office where you hold your savings account.
- 2Ask the counter staff for the 'PMSBY Consent-cum-Declaration Form', or download it in advance from https://www.jansuraksha.gov.in under the 'Forms' section.
- 3Fill in your name, savings account number, Aadhaar number, mobile number, date of birth, and nominee details in the form.
- 4Sign the auto-debit authorisation section permitting the bank to deduct ₹20 every year on or before 31 May.
- 5Submit the filled form along with a self-attested photocopy of your Aadhaar card to the branch official.
- 6Collect the stamped acknowledgement receipt from the branch as proof that your enrolment request has been submitted.
Filing a Claim
If the insured person meets with an accident resulting in death or disability, the nominee or the insured person must inform the bank branch as soon as possible. The claim is then processed by the insurance company tied up with that bank.
- 1Inform the bank branch (or the insurance company named on the enrolment certificate) about the accident at the earliest, ideally within 30 days.
- 2Collect the 'PMSBY Claim Form' from the bank branch, or download it from https://www.jansuraksha.gov.in.
- 3Attach the FIR copy and post-mortem report for a death claim, or a disability certificate issued by a civil surgeon/government hospital for a disability claim.
- 4Submit the completed claim form with the nominee's Aadhaar card, a copy of the bank passbook, and a cancelled cheque to the branch.
- 5The bank forwards the claim to the insurance company, which typically settles and credits the approved amount directly to the nominee's or claimant's bank account within 30 days of receiving all documents.
| Death claim | Claim form, FIR copy, post-mortem report, death certificate, nominee's Aadhaar and bank passbook copy |
| Total disability claim | Claim form, FIR copy, disability certificate from a civil surgeon, hospital treatment records |
| Partial disability claim | Claim form, medical certificate specifying the extent of disability, treatment records |
If your savings account does not have a minimum balance of ₹20 on the auto-debit date around 31 May, your PMSBY cover lapses immediately and will not pay out for any accident during the lapsed period. Keep sufficient balance in your account a few days before the renewal date every year.
PMSBY vs PMJJBY — What's the Difference?
PMSBY is often confused with the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY). Both are low-cost Jan Suraksha schemes but cover different risks, and many people take both for wider protection.
| What it covers | PMSBY: accidental death and disability only | PMJJBY: death due to any reason, including illness |
| Annual premium | PMSBY: ₹20 | PMJJBY: ₹436 |
| Sum assured | PMSBY: ₹2 lakh (death/full disability), ₹1 lakh (partial) | PMJJBY: ₹2 lakh |
| Age limit | PMSBY: 18–70 years | PMJJBY: 18–50 years at entry, cover up to 55 |
For a premium of just ₹20 a year — less than the price of a cup of tea — a family can receive ₹2 lakh if the account holder dies or is left fully disabled in an accident. This makes PMSBY one of the most affordable safety nets available to Indian households.
Frequently Asked Questions
- ●Can I enrol in PMSBY without a bank account? No — a savings bank or post office account with auto-debit consent is compulsory for enrolment.
- ●What happens if I turn 70 during the policy year? Your cover continues till the end of that policy year (31 May) but cannot be renewed once you cross 70.
- ●Can I hold both PMSBY and PMJJBY together? Yes, the two schemes are independent, and taking both gives you wider protection against accidents as well as death from any cause.
- ●How do I exit the scheme? Submit a written request at your bank branch to stop the auto-debit before the next renewal date on 31 May.
- ●Whom do I call for help? Use the toll-free helpline 1800-180-1111 or 1800-110-001, or contact your bank's customer care number.
PMSBY is one of the simplest financial safety measures available to any Indian citizen with a bank account. Enrolling takes a few minutes through net banking or a single form at your branch, and the ₹20 yearly premium can make a real difference to a family facing an accident. Renew every year before 31 May and keep your nominee details updated to make sure the cover works when it is needed most.