Govt modifies Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Wild Animal Attacks and Paddy Inundation Now Covered from Kharif 2026
The Centre revises the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to cover crop losses from wild animal attacks and paddy inundation, easing a long-standing burden on farmers from Kharif 2026.
A long-awaited reform for India’s farmers
For years, farmers living near forested regions have woken up to ruined fields—corn flattened by elephants, or paddy trampled by wild boars. For them, the fear of losing months of labor to animals or floodwaters has been a grim part of the farming routine. In a major policy shift, the Indian government has finally addressed this issue under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) by announcing coverage for crop loss due to wild animal attacks and paddy inundation, effective from Kharif 2026.
This expansion marks a crucial step in bridging a persistent protection gap in India’s flagship crop insurance scheme, which has often left many farmers vulnerable to losses beyond their control.
Evolving insurance for changing rural realities
The PMFBY was launched in January 2016 with the aim of providing affordable and comprehensive insurance to farmers against natural risks—from sowing to harvest. While the scheme has benefited millions, emerging environmental and climatic risks have tested its limits.
Incidents of wild animal depredation have become increasingly common across states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. Farmers in these regions have faced a paradox: despite evident damage from wildlife, such losses were not covered under existing insurance provisions. At the same time, recurring paddy inundation during monsoons—especially in coastal and flood-prone states such as Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu—continued to devastate crops without compensation.
The exclusion of these risks created glaring inequities. Paddy inundation had actually been removed from the localised calamity category in 2018 over concerns of moral hazard and difficulty in assessment. However, its absence exposed farmers to severe financial distress, especially in delta regions where waterlogging has become a seasonal norm due to changing rainfall patterns.
What the new PMFBY provisions mean
Acting on recommendations from an expert committee, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has now approved new modalities to cover both wild animal attacks and paddy inundation.
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Wild animal attacks will now be officially recognized as the fifth add-on risk under the localized calamity category.
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Paddy inundation will be reinstated as a defined localised risk event.
Under this framework:
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States will identify specific wild species that cause crop damage based on regional data.
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Vulnerable districts and insurance units will be mapped using past incident reports.
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Farmers must report losses within 72 hours through the Crop Insurance App by uploading geo-tagged photographs of damaged fields.
This approach replaces subjective assessments with technology-based claims verification, ensuring faster and more transparent claim settlements. The revised mechanism has been carefully aligned with PMFBY’s operational guidelines to maintain both scientific accuracy and ease of implementation.
Expert opinions and rural response
Agricultural experts have hailed the decision as a necessary modernization of India’s crop insurance landscape. Agricultural policy analyst Dr. Ramesh Saran, commenting on the move, noted that it reflects “a pragmatic understanding of the evolving vulnerabilities in rural India, particularly as human-wildlife conflicts and irregular rainfall patterns increase.”
Farmers’ organizations in states like Odisha and Uttarakhand, where elephant and wild boar raids are recurrent, have welcomed the announcement, calling it “a long-overdue recognition of invisible losses.” Social media reactions among agricultural communities echo relief that the government has acted before another monsoon cycle leaves vulnerable farmers stranded.
However, some experts caution that effective implementation will require strong coordination between forest and agriculture departments, accurate wildlife mapping, and local awareness campaigns on reporting damage through digital tools.
Why this policy shift matters
The modifications go beyond simple compensation—they signal a deeper policy realignment to protect small and marginal farmers against environmental volatility.
At present, nearly 85 percent of PMFBY beneficiaries are small and marginal category farmers. For them, even a single instance of crop destruction can jeopardize their economic survival.
By integrating wildlife and flood risks into insurance coverage:
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Risk coverage becomes more equitable, acknowledging emerging threats beyond conventional natural calamities.
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Technology integration—through the Crop Insurance App—creates a transparent, auditable process for claims.
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Faster claim disbursal via the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) and direct bank transfers ensures minimal lag between damage and compensation.
Moreover, reintroducing paddy inundation coverage will provide crucial protection across coastal belts and riverine plains—areas repeatedly affected by climate-driven flooding that traditional insurance models failed to address.
What to expect next
The rollout from Kharif 2026 gives states ample time to prepare databases, train insurance officers, and integrate local data with the national portal. The success of the reform will depend on:
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Reliable verification methods to prevent overreporting or misreporting of damage.
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Awareness drives in local languages to ensure farmers know how to file claims.
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Coordination with wildlife authorities to monitor conflict zones.
If implemented efficiently, this reform could also set a precedent for future insurance coverage expansion—including possibilities like pest outbreaks, drought-linked animal migration damage, and AI-based field monitoring.
A step toward resilient agriculture
The government’s decision to modify PMFBY once again underscores its intent to make agricultural insurance adaptive, data-driven, and inclusive. India’s farming landscape faces fast-changing climate risks, and policy must evolve accordingly. This development addresses both ecological and economic realities—protecting livelihoods while promoting coexistence between agriculture and wildlife.
From the forests of Assam to the flooded paddies of Kerala, millions of farmers will soon have a stronger safety net to shield them from nature’s unpredictability.
Disclaimer: This article is based on verified information from the Press Information Bureau and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The perspectives shared are for informational purposes and reflect the evolving policy environment as of November 2025.