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O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 809
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06/02/2026
INCREASE IN CASES OF FARMERS SUICIDE IN MAHARASHTRA
809. SMT. SUNETRA AJIT PAWAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that there has been an increase in the number of cases of farmer suicides in
Maharashtra during the first half of 2025, if so, the district-wise details for the Vidarbha and
Marathwada regions;
(b) whether Government has considered any special 'Loan Waiver' package or interest relief in
Maharashtra in view of the rising debt burden and crop damage due to excessive rainfall/drought;
and
(c) the current status of the settlement of pending claims of the farmers in Maharashtra under the
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and the timeframe set for the same?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) : The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs compiles
and disseminates information on suicides in its publication titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in
India’ (ADSI). The report till 2023 is available on NCRB website (https://ncrb.gov.in).
(b): The State Government is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures in the
wake of natural calamities. For undertaking relief measures, funds are available with the State
Government in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Additional financial
assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)
for natural calamities of severe nature and is approved on the basis of Memorandum received from
the State Government, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter- Ministerial
Central Team (IMCT). IMCT visits the State for assessment of the calamity situation and
requirement of financial assistance from NDRF. Taking into account the report of the IMCT and the
recommendations of the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) thereon, High
Level Committee approves the assistance from NDRF.The Government is implementing Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) to provide
loan on concessional interest rate through Kisan Credit Card (KCC). Farmers receive KCC loans at a
subsidized interest rate of 7%. To facilitate this, an upfront interest subvention of 1.5% is provided to
financial institutions. Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive a 3% Prompt
Repayment Incentive, effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum. These benefits are
available for loan limits up to Rs. 3 lakhs. From the inception of the scheme, a total of ₹2.02 lakh
crores was given as subsidy to farmers through MISS in which ₹1.77 lakh crores was disbursed from
2014-15 to December, 2025. From 2019, the benefits of KCC-MISS were extended to agri allied
sectors also. Farmers availing KCC loans for allied activities are provided with the benefits of MISS
up to sublimit of ₹2 lakhs within the overall limit of ₹3 lakhs. As on 31.03.2025, the number of
operative accounts reported under animal husbandry and fisheries are 47.22 lakh and 1.35 lakh
respectively.
The Government has launched Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in 2019,
an income support scheme for cultivable landholding farmers providing Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal
installments. So far, more than Rs. 4.09 lakh Cr. has been disbursed through 21st instalments to the
eligible farmers across the country.
(c): In Maharashtra, during 2024–25, out of the total claims of Rs. 5,954 crore, claims of
Rs. 5,775 crore have already been paid to about 83 lakh farmer applications, leaving pending claims
of Rs. 179 crore.
Majority of the claims are settled within the stipulated timelines under the Operational
Guidelines of the scheme, i.e., within 21 days of receipt of requisite yield data from the concerned
State Government, by the insurance companies. However, during the implementation of PMFBY,
some complaints were received in the past about payment of claims which are primarily on account
of delay in providing the State Government’s share of subsidy, non-payment/delayed payment or
underpayment of claims on account of incorrect/delayed submission of insurance proposals by
banks, and discrepancy in yield data and consequent disputes between the State Government and
insurance companies etc. The Pending claims on account of these issues are settled after their
resolution, as per the provisions of the scheme.
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