Why in news: 28-year analysis (1995–2023) of NCRB data shows that suicides among farmers and agricultural labourers remain structurally entrenched, with a sharp resurgence in 2023, highlighting persistent agrarian distress in India.
What Are Farmer Suicides?
1Deaths by suicide among cultivators and agricultural labourers, recorded annually by the National Crime Records Burea(NCRB).
2Considered a key indicator of rural and agrarian distress, reflecting:
oInadequate income security
oLimited access to credit
oCrop failure or price volatility
oWeak social safety nets
Trends (1995–2023)
1Scale of Crisis: ~3.94 lakh deaths over 28 years (~13,600 per year).
2Regional Concentration: Southern and western India account for ~72.5% of cases; Maharashtra and Karnataka are persistent hotspots.
3Peak Years: Intensified post-1995 (after WTO entry), with 2000–2009 as the deadliest period; 2002 recorded the highest suicides.
4Crop-linked Distress:
oBt cotton expansion in rain-fed areas increased input costs and indebtedness.
oWeak minimum support prices (MSP) and poor market access exacerbated vulnerability.
5Temporary Relief Phase: 2010–2019 saw a decline due to:
oMGNREGA employment guarantee
oCrop and life insurance expansions
oDebt relief programmes
6Recent Reversal: 2023 recorded a ~75% rise over 2022, due to:
oDelayed reporting from Covid-era backlog
oFresh shocks from droughts, crop price crashes, and inflationary pressures
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
