The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a one-year life insurance scheme of the Central Government, renewable every year. It was launched on 9 May 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Kolkata — with PMSBY and the Atal Pension Yojana, as part of the Jan Suraksha initiative. A savings bank or post office account holder aged 18 to 50 gets ₹2 lakh of life cover for just ₹436 a year, paid to the nominee on death due to any cause.
How much cover is given
If the insured person dies due to any cause — illness, accident or natural causes — the nominee receives a lump sum of ₹2 lakh. This is pure life insurance — nothing is paid back if the person survives. The premium is ₹436 a year, the rate in force since 1 June 2022, deducted by auto-debit. The cover period runs every year from 1 June to 31 May; those joining mid-year pay a lower pro-rata premium.
Who can enrol
Any person aged 18 to 50 years with an active savings bank or post office account in a participating bank or post office can join. Nobody can newly enrol after 50, but one who joined before 50 can keep the cover going until 55 by continuing to pay the premium. The scheme is offered through the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and other life insurers, with the participating banks and post offices. The nominee’s name must be given at enrolment.
How it differs from PMSBY
Both were launched on the same day, but they differ. PMSBY is accident-only insurance — for ₹20 a year it pays ₹2 lakh on accidental death or disability, and death from illness or natural causes is not covered. PMJJBY is life insurance — it pays ₹2 lakh on death due to any cause, but gives no disability benefit. PMSBY entry is 18 to 70 years; PMJJBY entry is 18 to 50 years. Both can be taken together — the combined premium is only ₹456 a year.
How to enrol and how to claim
Visit your bank branch or post office for the PMJJBY form, or download it from jansuraksha.gov.in and submit the filled form. The form needs account details, the nominee’s information and consent for auto-debit. Once enrolled, the ₹436 premium is auto-debited before 31 May every year. To claim, the nominee submits the claim form with the death certificate at the bank branch. As of 29 April 2026, the scheme had over 27.43 crore enrolments, and ₹21,512.50 crore had been paid on 10,75,625 claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the annual premium under PMJJBY?
A: ₹436 a year — deducted from the account by auto-debit.
Q2: How much is paid on death due to any cause?
A: The nominee receives a lump sum of ₹2 lakh.
Q3: Who can join this scheme?
A: Anyone aged 18 to 50 with an active savings bank or post office account in a participating bank or post office; cover can continue until age 55.
Q4: How does PMJJBY differ from PMSBY?
A: PMJJBY pays ₹2 lakh on death due to any cause; PMSBY pays ₹2 lakh only on accidental death or disability.
Useful links
- Jan Suraksha official portal: https://jansuraksha.gov.in/
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/pmjjby
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — /english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
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