Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a critical national agricultural policy aimed at providing financial security to farmers.
It addresses risks associated with yield losses from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages.
Understanding the timeline of major welfare programs is essential for evaluating policy transitions.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The PMFBY was officially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 February 20
Its actual implementation on the ground commenced with the Kharif 2016 season, not the 2015 season.
This makes the statement in option (C) chronologically incorrect.
Evaluating the other options:
- Statement (A) is correct because India's PMFBY is the largest crop insurance program globally in terms of the volume of participating farmers.
- Statement (B) is correct because the program utilizes an 'Area Approach', treating a defined geographical area (such as a Gram Panchayat) as a single unit for damage assessment and compensation.
- Statement (D) is correct because the government restructured the scheme in 2020 to make participation completely voluntary for all farmers, including those with active crop loans.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is (C) as the scheme began during the Kharif 2016 season.