Context: A 28-year analysis of NCRB data (1995–2023) shows that farmer and agricultural labourer suicides remain structurally entrenched in India, with a sharp resurgence in 2023.
About Farmer suicides in India:
What it is?
- Farmer suicides refer to deaths by suicide among cultivators and agricultural labourers, recorded annually by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
- It is a key indicator of agrarian distress, reflecting failures in income security, credit access, crop stability, and rural livelihoods.
Trends (1995–2023):
- Scale of crisis: Around 3.94 lakh farmers and agricultural labourers died by suicide over 28 years—about 13,600 deaths annually.
- Regional concentration: Southern and western India account for ~72.5% of all cases; Maharashtra and Karnataka are persistent epicentres.
- Peak years: The crisis intensified post-1995 (WTO entry), peaking between 2000–2009; 2002 was the deadliest year.
- Crop-linked distress: Expansion of Bt cotton in rain-fed regions raised input costs and risk, aggravating indebtedness amid weak price support.
- Temporary relief phase: Suicides declined after 2010, coinciding with MGNREGA, expanded insurance, and debt relief—lowest during 2015–2019.
- Recent reversal: 2023 saw a ~75% rise over 2022, partly due to delayed Covid-era reporting but also renewed shocks (droughts, price crashes).
Relevance for UPSC syllabus
- GS Paper I (Indian Society): Agrarian distress, regional inequality, rural livelihoods, social vulnerability.
- GS Paper II (Governance & Social Justice): Welfare schemes (MGNREGA), role of state interventions, institutional credit, social protection.
- GS Paper III (Indian Economy & Agriculture): Agricultural reforms, input costs, crop insurance, MSP, WTO impact, labour markets.
