Manipur raises Manipuri pony owner incentive to ₹10,000 per year
Synopsis
Manipur has more than doubled the annual cash incentive for Manipuri pony owners to ₹10,000, backed by a new Pony Registration System and a DoNER-approved conservation plan. The move puts real money behind the state's polo-heritage USP — and signals a shift from goodwill gestures to structured, data-driven breed conservation.
Key Takeaways
The Manipur government has raised the annual incentive for Manipuri pony owners to ₹10,000 per pony , announced on 28 October 2026 .
1,150 pony owners received incentives last year; ₹30 lakh is budgeted for the current year's disbursements.
The newly launched Pony Registration System (PRS) will establish an accurate pony headcount and underpin selective breeding efforts.
Manipur's designated USP under the DoNER regional branding framework is its polo heritage , with a conservation proposal jointly approved by the DoNER Ministry and the Chief Minister.
2,456 animals insured under the National Livestock Insurance Scheme and 7,205 cases handled by Mobile Veterinary Units since 1 April.
The Manipur government has raised the annual incentive for Manipuri pony owners to ₹10,000 per pony, up from the previous rate, as part of a concerted push to conserve the state's endangered indigenous equine breed, officials said on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The move comes on the back of a newly launched Pony Registration System (PRS) and a jointly approved conservation proposal involving the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
What Triggered the Hike
L. Arunkumar Singh, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, said incentives were distributed to 1,150 pony owners last year through the Governor. Following the launch of the Pony Registration System (PRS) by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the department submitted a formal proposal to revise the incentive upward to ₹10,000 per pony owner annually. An amount of ₹30 lakh has been earmarked in the annual budget to fund these payouts.
The Pony Registration System and Population Outlook
Departmental officials have begun work on the PRS, which is designed to establish an accurate headcount of the total pony population across the state. According to departmental records, the pony population has registered an increase this year — a positive sign given the breed's endangered status. The PRS is expected to bring greater transparency to incentive disbursement and selective breeding programmes.
Cultural Heritage and Polo USP
The Manipuri Pony is one of the oldest recognised indigenous horse breeds in the world, celebrated for its intelligence, agility and endurance. Traditionally associated with polo and racing, it occupies a central place in Manipur's cultural identity and is considered among the earliest breeds used in polo — a sport played across Asia for centuries.
Under the regional development and branding framework coordinated with the DoNER Ministry, each northeastern state has identified a distinct Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Manipur's designated USP is its polo heritage. The Genetic-Based Selective Breeding Component under this initiative covers two key areas: selective breeding and infrastructure development. A conservation proposal for the endangered breed, jointly pursued by the DoNER Ministry and the Manipur Chief Minister, has been approved.
Broader Livestock Welfare Measures
Beyond pony conservation, the department is implementing the National Livestock Insurance Scheme covering cows, buffaloes and pigs. From 1 April this year through Wednesday, a total of 2,456 animals had been insured. Periodic vaccination drives under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) scheme will target diseases including Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), African Swine Fever (ASF), Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), Black Quarter (BQ) and rabies. Poultry vaccination is also planned.
The department is additionally constructing Artificial Insemination (AI) centres under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM). Meanwhile, 33 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs), launched on 11 July 2024, are operational across the state and accessible via toll-free number 1962. From 1 April this year until Wednesday, the service had logged 7,205 cases — 693 resolved over the phone and 6,512 addressed through physical visits.
The combined push signals a shift toward structured, data-driven conservation for the Manipuri Pony — with the PRS set to become the foundation for every future policy decision on the breed.
Point of View
Tamper-proof headcount — because without verified numbers, disbursements risk reaching ghost beneficiaries, a recurring problem in livestock welfare schemes. The DoNER polo-heritage branding is an imaginative policy frame, but the Manipuri Pony's survival ultimately depends on whether selective breeding produces animals commercially viable enough to sustain private ownership without perpetual state subsidy. The modest ₹30 lakh budget, spread across potentially more than 1,150 owners, also bears scrutiny: at scale, it may prove inadequate to reverse a population decline driven by shrinking grazing land and competition from other breeds.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new annual incentive for Manipuri pony owners?
The Manipur government has raised the annual incentive to ₹10,000 per pony owner, up from the previous rate. An amount of ₹30 lakh has been set aside in the state's annual budget to fund the payouts.
What is the Pony Registration System launched in Manipur?
The Pony Registration System (PRS) is a government initiative launched by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to catalogue the total Manipuri pony population across the state. It is intended to improve transparency in incentive disbursement and support the selective breeding programme.
Why is the Manipuri Pony considered important?
The Manipuri Pony is one of the oldest recognised indigenous horse breeds, historically associated with polo and racing. It is central to Manipur's cultural heritage and has been designated the state's Unique Selling Proposition under the DoNER regional branding framework.
Who approved the Manipuri Pony conservation proposal?
A conservation proposal for the endangered Manipuri Pony was jointly pursued by the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Manipur Chief Minister, and has been approved, according to departmental officials.
What other animal welfare schemes is Manipur currently running?
The state is implementing the National Livestock Insurance Scheme — covering cows, buffaloes and pigs — with 2,456 animals insured since 1 April. Periodic vaccination drives against diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease and African Swine Fever are also planned, and 33 Mobile Veterinary Units have handled 7,205 cases since 1 April.
