
 Union of India - Act
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 Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana 2017
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 UNION OF INDIA
   
 India
 
 Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana 2017
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 Rule PRAVASI-BHARATIYA-BIMA-YOJANA-2017 of 2017
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* Published on 10 July 2017
* Commenced on 10 July 2017
 Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana 2017
 
 Published vide Notification No. G.S.R. 864(E) , dated 10th July, 2017
 
 Ministry of External Affairs
 
 (Orverseas Indian Affairs Division-I)
 
 G.S.R. 864(E) . - Whereas an insurance scheme for Indian emigrants going abroad for employment, viz., Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, 2003 and amendment as per Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, 2006 and Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, 2008 , as carried out by the Government of India on 13th November, 2003, 25th January, 2006 and 1st April, 2008 respectively.
 
 Whereas the Government of India considers it necessary to further amend the scheme with a view to strengthen the coverage to the emigrant workers.
 
 Now, therefore, the Government of India hereby makes the following scheme, namely:-
 
### 1. Short title and commencement.
 - (i)  This Scheme may be called the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana 2017.
 
(ii) It shall come into force from 1st August, 2017.
 
### 2. Application.
 - (i)  This Scheme shall be mandatory for all citizens of India who apply for and obtain an emigration clearance as required under the Emigration Act, 1983 (
 31 of 1983 
 ) as well as emigrants going for overseas employment for various professions falling under work categories covered under Section 2(o)  of Emigration Act, 1983 irrespective of the passport category.
 
(ii) The benefits under this Scheme shall not apply in the event of war or internal conflict in the country to which the citizen of India holding the said policy has gone for work or where Government travel advisory not to travel is in place.
 
### 3. Definition.
 - In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires, "Emigrant" means any citizen of India who intends to emigrate, or emigrates or has emigrated but does not include:
 
(a) a dependent of an emigrant, whether such dependent accompanies that emigrant, or departs subsequently for the purpose of joining that emigrant in the country to which that emigrant has lawfully emigrated;
 
(b) any person who has resided outside India at any time after attaining the age of eighteen years, for not less than three years or the spouse or child of such person;
 
 "Protector of Emigrants" means a Protector of Emigrants appointed under section 3 and includes a person authorized under section 5 of the Emigration Act,1983.
 
 "Insurance Company" means an insurer being a company formed and registered under the Insurance Act,1938.
 
 "Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) " means the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) formed as per Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
 
### 4. Requirement of taking insurance policy by certain persons applying for emigration clearance.
 - (i)  It shall be mandatory for all emigrants who need Emigration Clearance for overseas employment, to subscribe to an insurance policy from any Insurance Company operating in India and duly registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
 
(ii) Each citizen of India applying for emigration clearance from the concerned Protector of Emigrants (POE) shall obtain an Insurance policy covering the following:
 
(a) The Insurance policy shall be valid for a minimum period of two/three years and renewable thereafter during the period of employment contract.
 
(b) The Insured person shall be covered for a sum of ten lakh rupees in the event of accidental death or permanent disability leading to loss of employment while in employment abroad. The insurance shall remain valid irrespective of change of employer or the insured's location during the policy period. The insurance shall also remain valid during visit of insured to India or any third country during the currency of insurance policy.
 
(c) Certification of accidental death or permanent disability leading to loss in the employment by Indian Missions and Posts abroad shall be accepted by the insurance companies. While in third country, certification of accidental death/ permanent disability leading to loss in the employment by Indian Mission/Post in that country and in India, certification by concerned Protector of Emigrants shall be acceptable.
 
(d) In case of accidental death, besides the cost of transporting the dead body, the cost incurred on economy class return airfare of one attendant upto the International airport in India nearest to the address of the insured shall also be reimbursed by the Insurance Company. In case of permanent disability of the insured, the economy class return airfare of one attendant upto the International airport nearest to the address of the insured shall also be reimbursed by the Insurance Company. The claim for reimbursement shall be filed with the Insurance Company within 90 days of completion of journey.
 
(e) The insurance company shall pay the sum insured in case of accidental death or permanent disability due to any accident/ physical injury sustained while in employment abroad occurring within twelve months from the date of such accident provided it occurs during the currency of insurance policy and such death or permanent disability shall be attributed to the said accident. In such cases, intimation about the accident/ physical injury will be sent to the Insurance Company within 30 days from the date of such accident/ physical injury. Further, claim has to be filed within 90 days from the date of accidental death/ permanent disability. In case of non-submission of claim documents within 90 days, certificate from the Indian Mission/ Post stating that the circumstances were beyond the control of the insured, will be accepted by the Insurance Company. In case of accidental death/ permanent disability in India, certificate from Protector of Emigrants will be accepted.
 
(f) The Insurance company shall provide medical insurance cover of Rupees one lakh only (up to Rupees Fifty thousand per hospitalization) in case of hospitalization of the insured in an emergency on grounds of accidental injuries and/ or sickness/ ailments/ diseases occurring during the period of Insurance whether in India/ third country or in the country of his employment.
 
(g) The Insurance company shall reimburse the actual medical expenses in the event of 4 (f) above, and in case such medical treatment is taken in India, shall also provide cashless hospitalization.
 
(h) If the insured person falls sick or is declared medically unfit to commence or continue or resume work and the service contract is terminated by the foreign employer within first twelve months of taking the insurance cover, the actual one way Economy Class airfare up to the International airport nearest to the address of the insured shall be reimbursed by the Insurance company provided the grounds for repatriation are certified by the concerned Indian Mission/ Post and Air-tickets are submitted in original.
 
(i) On arrival at his work place or destination abroad, if the emigrant worker is not received by the employer or if there is any substantive change in the job/ Employment Contract/ Agreement to the disadvantage of the insured person, or if the employment is prematurely terminated within the period of employment for no fault of the emigrant, one-way Economy Class airfare shall also be reimbursed by the Insurance company upto the international airport nearest to the address of the insured provided the grounds for repatriation are certified by the concerned Indian Mission/Post and the Air-tickets are submitted in original.
 
(j) In cases where the repatriation is arranged by the Indian Mission/ Post, the Insurance Company shall reimburse the actual expenses to the concerned Indian Mission/ Post.
 
(k) The Insurance under this policy shall also provide maternity benefits to women emigrants, subject to a minimum cover of Thirty five thousand rupees in case of normal delivery and upto Rupees fifty thousand in case of caesarean operation per policy period . In case of medical treatment in the country of employment, the maternity benefits would be provided only if the requisite documents are certified by the concerned Indian Mission/ Post. The reimbursement shall be restricted to actuals.
 
(l) The family of the emigrant worker in India consisting of spouse and first two dependent children upto twenty one years of age shall be entitled to hospitalization cover in the event of death or permanent disability of the insured person for maximum fifty thousand rupees per annum during the policy period.
 
(m) An insured person shall be covered for a sum of Rupees Forty five thousand in connection with the legal expenses incurred by him in any litigation relating to his/ her employment, provided the necessity of filing such case is certified by the concerned Indian Mission/ Post.
 
(n) The Insurance Company shall provide facility of online renewal of the policy for a further period by the emigrants on its expiry subject to production of proof of employment.
 
(o) The Insurance Company shall provide a copy of insurance policy to the nominee of the insured person.
 
(p) The Insurance companies shall charge fair and reasonable premium. Service tax will be charged as applicable.
 
### 5. The Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, 2017 will replace the existing Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana with effect from the date of its coming into force.
 

