PMFBY to cover crop loss from wild animal attacks and paddy inundation from Kharif 2026
The Ministry of Agriculture announced on 18 November 2025 that crop losses from wild animal attacks and paddy inundation will be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Kharif 2026.
Summary
Under the revised PMFBY framework, crop loss due to wild animal attack becomes the fifth add-on cover under the localised risk category. States will notify the wild animals responsible and identify vulnerable districts or insurance units, and farmers must report losses within 72 hours through the Crop Insurance App with geotagged photographs. Paddy inundation, removed from the localised calamity category in 2018 over moral-hazard and assessment concerns, has been reintroduced. The changes are expected to help coastal, Himalayan and north-eastern states.
Key facts
- Scheme
- PMFBY
- New covers
- Wild animal attack (5th add-on, localised risk); paddy inundation (localised calamity)
- Reporting
- Within 72 hours via Crop Insurance App, geotagged photos
- Paddy inundation
- Removed in 2018, now reintroduced
- Roll-out
- Kharif 2026
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which two risks were brought under PMFBY coverage in November 2025, to be rolled out from Kharif 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Wild animal attack and paddy inundation
Crop loss from wild animal attack (as a localised risk add-on) and paddy inundation (localised calamity) will be covered from Kharif 2026.
Under the revised PMFBY modalities, within how many hours must farmers report crop loss due to wild animal attack through the Crop Insurance App?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 72 hours
Farmers must report losses within 72 hours with geotagged photographs.
From which crop season will the new PMFBY covers for wild animal attack and paddy inundation be rolled out?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Kharif 2026
The modalities will be rolled out from Kharif 2026. Paddy inundation had been removed from the localised calamity category in 2018.