Gujarat livestock insurance scheme to cover 1 lakh animals at ₹229 premium
Synopsis
Gujarat has set a target of insuring one lakh animals in 2026-27 under the Pashudhan Bima Sahay Yojana, with livestock farmers paying just ₹229 for up to ₹40,000 in annual coverage — the state shoulders 85% of the cost. With 87,147 applications already received and ₹305 lakh in combined central and state funding committed, the programme aims to nearly double last year's coverage of under 49,000 animals.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat targets insurance cover for 1 lakh animals under the Pashudhan Bima Sahay Yojana during 2026-27 .
Farmers pay a premium of ₹229 ; the state government contributes ₹1,300 per animal, covering 85 per cent of the total cost.
Coverage is up to ₹40,000 per animal per year; each family can insure up to 10 large animals or 100 small animals .
The Centre has allocated ₹250 lakh for Gujarat; ₹115 lakh released as first instalment.
The state has separately approved ₹55 lakh .
Applications for 87,147 animals have already been received via the i-Khedut portal as of 4 November 2026 .
In the previous year, 48,695 animals belonging to 12,228 farmers were insured under the scheme.
Livestock farmers in Gujarat will be able to insure their animals for up to ₹40,000 for a year by paying a nominal premium of just ₹229, with the state government absorbing 85 per cent of the insurance cost under the Pashudhan Bima Sahay Yojana (Livestock Insurance Assistance Scheme). The Gujarat government has set a target of covering one lakh animals under the scheme during 2026-27, according to an announcement made in Gandhinagar on 4 November 2026.
How the Scheme Works
Under the programme, the state government provides premium assistance of ₹1,300 per animal — constituting 85 per cent of the total premium — while the livestock farmer pays the remaining ₹229 to secure coverage of up to ₹40,000 for one year. Each family is eligible to insure a maximum of 10 large animals or 100 small animals. Eligible large animals include cows, buffaloes, horses, donkeys, camels, bulls, bullocks, and male buffaloes.
What the Government Said
Announcing the initiative, Gujarat Cabinet spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said the scheme was designed to shield livestock-rearing families from financial losses following the sudden death of animals. 'The scheme is aimed at protecting livestock-rearing families from financial losses caused by the sudden death of animals, given that livestock is a major source of their livelihood,' Vaghani said. He also urged farmers to keep identification tags on their animals intact and provide accurate registration details to avoid complications when claiming assistance.
Funding and Allocations
The scheme is being implemented in Gujarat under the Centre's National Livestock Mission. For 2026-27, the Centre has approved an allocation of ₹250 lakh for Gujarat, of which ₹115 lakh has been released as the first instalment. The state government has separately approved ₹55 lakh under its own state-funded livestock insurance assistance scheme, supplementing the central outlay.
Current Progress and Last Year's Numbers
The government has already received applications for insurance coverage for 87,147 animals through the i-Khedut portal. The Animal Husbandry Department is making arrangements to bring all eligible applicants under the scheme. During the previous year, 48,695 animals belonging to 12,228 livestock farmers were insured under the programme in Gujarat — indicating that the 2026-27 target of one lakh animals would nearly double last year's coverage if achieved. This comes amid a broader national push to strengthen the rural livestock economy through targeted financial protection mechanisms.
Point of View
But the gap between last year's 48,695 insured animals and the new one-lakh target reveals how far actual uptake has trailed ambition. The near-doubling of the target despite under-50% coverage last year suggests the scheme's bottleneck is awareness and administration, not funding. The fact that 87,147 applications have already arrived through the i-Khedut portal is encouraging, but converting applications to active policies — and then paying claims swiftly — is where rural insurance schemes in India have historically faltered. The real metric to watch is claims settlement speed, not enrolment numbers.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pashudhan Bima Sahay Yojana in Gujarat?
The Pashudhan Bima Sahay Yojana is a livestock insurance scheme implemented in Gujarat under the Centre's National Livestock Mission. It provides coverage of up to ₹40,000 per animal per year, with the state government paying 85 per cent of the premium and farmers contributing just ₹229.
How many animals does Gujarat plan to insure in 2026-27?
The Gujarat government has set a target of covering one lakh animals under the scheme during 2026-27, nearly double the 48,695 animals insured in the previous year. Applications for 87,147 animals have already been received through the i-Khedut portal.
What animals are eligible for coverage under the scheme?
Eligible large animals include cows, buffaloes, horses, donkeys, camels, bulls, bullocks, and male buffaloes. Each family can insure a maximum of 10 large animals or 100 small animals under the scheme.
How much funding has been allocated for the scheme in Gujarat?
The Centre has approved ₹250 lakh for Gujarat under the National Livestock Mission for 2026-27, of which ₹115 lakh has been released as the first instalment. The state government has additionally approved ₹55 lakh under its own state-funded component of the scheme.
Who should livestock farmers contact to register under the scheme?
Farmers can apply through the i-Khedut portal, the state government's integrated farmer services platform. Minister Jitu Vaghani has urged all eligible farmers to register promptly, ensure their animals' identification tags are intact, and provide accurate details to avoid difficulties in claim settlement.
