How does PMFBY prevented sowing cover work if I could not sow due to no rain?

Yes, PMFBY has a prevented sowing or failed sowing provision. If a large part of the insured area in a notified unit could not be sown at all because of a serious shortfall in rainfall or adverse seasonal conditions, the scheme can pay a fixed share of the sum insured, commonly up to about 25 percent, even though no crop was planted. Two conditions matter. First, this cover applies when widespread prevented sowing is declared for the notified area, not for one isolated field. Second, it is decided based on the season and conditions notified by the state, so the state government has to recognise the prevented sowing situation for that unit. You do not file an individual crop-cutting claim for this, the payout is triggered at the notified area level. Whether prevented sowing is active for your crop and area in a given year depends on the state notification, so check with your agriculture office or the PMFBY portal for your district before counting on it.