Indian agriculture depends on monsoon which is always flexible. It leads to operating risk in cultivation of different crops. Natural calamities may affect on the yield from agriculture sector. To cover the risk which may occur in future, there is need to some provision and crop insurance is only mechanism available to safeguard against production risk in agriculture. For fulfilling this need the Government of India has made experiments & efforts by introducing various schemes of crop insurance. Since the year 2007, Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme has been launched by Government of India. This research paper has made attempt to study the growth and development of Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme in Rajasthan. 
 
KEYWORDS:  Operating Risk, Production Risk, Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme.   

Introduction Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme was started for the first time during Kharif 2007 on a pilot basis. This scheme was based on Area approach. More than 70 percents ubsidy on premium is being provided to all farmers, which is equally shared by GO Iand Rajasthan Government. Crops like Bazra, Moong, Moth, Cowpea, Groundnut and Guar for Kharif season and Fenugreek, Coriander, Cumin, Gram, Isabgol, Sarso / Mastard, Taramira, Barley, Wheat for Rabi season are covered under this scheme. This scheme is not based on yield parameters, but based on several weather parameters like deficit/excess rain fall, excess temperature and dry days. All the farmers (loanee and non-loanee) are eligible in this scheme. However this is compulsory for loanee farmers. Reference Unit Area is linked to local weather stations. Risk period i.e. insurance period will be considered from sowing time to maturity of crop. The sum insured under WBCIS is broadly equivalent to cost of cultivation and it ispre-declared and notified by the insurance agency and banks. 

Review of Literature

          Sinha (2004) undertook a study of interstate comparison with respect to the effect of crop insurance policy. 

          Kalavakonda and Mahul (2005) analyzed the activity of crop insurance of India's second largest driest state Karnataka and pointed out the weakness in product design, implementation challenges and operational problems. 

          Karthik and Ramalingam (2013) analyzed the awareness level of farmers about various crop of insurance scheme and also evaluated the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and their awareness level. 

          Balasubramanian (2014) in his article, highlighted issues related to weather based crop insurance scheme in Perambalur district of Tamilnadu where about 90 percent area is under rained. Therefore,WBLIS is more appropriate for covering the rainfall risks in cropping.