India expands crop insurance to cover wild animal damage and paddy flooding from 2026.

The Indian government will expand the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to cover crop losses from wild animal attacks and paddy inundation starting with the 2026 Kharif season. Wild animal attacks, including those by elephants and boars, are now a fifth add-on cover under 'Localised Risk,' requiring farmers to report losses within 72 hours using the Crop Insurance App with geotagged photos. Paddy inundation, previously excluded since 2018, is reinstated as a 'Localised Calamity Cover' for flood-prone regions. The move, aimed at supporting farmers in forest-adjacent, hilly, and coastal areas, addresses long-standing protection gaps amid rising climate and human-wildlife conflict risks.