In a first, Centre planning a universal cattle insurance scheme

The scheme could be formalised on the lines of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which is for the crop sector, sources said

After having introduced crop insurance, the Central government is planning a universal livestock insurance scheme, covering all kinds of indigenous and cross-bred cattle and, maybe, yaks and mithuns too.

The broad contours of the cattle scheme could be spelt out in the Budget though this has not been independently confirmed. The cost for the Budget, in the first year, could be scaled up later, depending on the take-up of the scheme and so will not have a significant expenditure implication for next year.  This could come as a big relief to millions of cattle farmers in India who had to