Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, June 28, 2026, praised the Petkar family of Bahadurpura, Nanded, for gifting accident insurance coverage to their entire village on the occasion of a family wedding, calling it a new example worth emulating across the country. The Prime Minister used the occasion to urge citizens to share information about two flagship government insurance schemes with their families.

In his post on X, originally in Hindi, Modi wrote: 'Nanded mein Bahadurpura ke Petkar parivaar ne vivah ke avsar par gaon ke logon ka durghatna beema karakar ek nayi misal kayam ki hai' — 'The Petkar family of Bahadurpura in Nanded has set a new example by arranging accident insurance for the people of their village on the occasion of a wedding.'

Context

The gesture by the Petkar family involved enrolling fellow villagers in an accident insurance scheme as part of their wedding celebrations — a departure from conventional gifting traditions. The act drew the Prime Minister's public appreciation, reflecting a broader cultural push to normalise insurance coverage in rural and semi-urban India, where penetration remains low. Nanded is a district in Marathwada, Maharashtra, a region historically marked by agrarian stress and limited access to formal financial safety nets.

Policy Backdrop

The two schemes Modi specifically urged citizens to learn about are the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY). PMSBY offers accidental death and disability cover of Rs 2 lakh for an annual premium of just Rs 20, while PMJJBY provides life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh for an annual premium of Rs 436, both targeting low-income and uninsured populations. Both schemes were launched in May 2015 as part of the government's financial inclusion agenda and are available through bank accounts linked to Aadhaar.

Since their launch, the schemes have together enrolled hundreds of millions of subscribers, though rural awareness and renewal rates continue to be a challenge. The government has periodically used social media, Jan Dhan Melas, and community outreach to sustain enrolment momentum.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Prime Minister's post effectively transforms a local community act in Nanded into a national awareness moment, amplifying the reach of PMSBY and PMJJBY without a formal campaign spend. For rural households — particularly in agrarian districts like Nanded — accident and life insurance can be the difference between financial recovery and debt spiral following a breadwinner's death or disability. The low premium structure of both schemes is designed precisely for such demographics.

By framing the Petkar family's gesture as a 'nayi misal' (new example), the Prime Minister signals encouragement for similar community-led insurance drives, potentially inspiring other families to replicate the model at social events such as weddings, festivals, and community gatherings.

What's Next

The post carries an embedded video, likely documenting the Petkar family's initiative, which may further amplify grassroots uptake of the two schemes. With insurance penetration in rural India still well below urban levels, moments like these — backed by the Prime Minister's public endorsement — could reinforce the government's broader Jan Suraksha mission. Policymakers and state governments may take cues from this public nudge to organise local enrolment drives tied to community events.