India's camel population has declined 37% since 2012. Surra (Trypanosomiasis) kills camels across Rajasthan. Camels crossing NH-15, NH-11, and NH-68 at night are regularly struck by vehicles. the insurer Camel Insurance covers disease, road accidents, and natural calamity — for Raika herders, Fakirani communities, safari operators, dairy farmers, and the BSF Camel Corps. RPBY subsidy: 50%–70% of premium.
Rural Insurance
The the insurer Camel Insurance Scheme is a livestock mortality insurance product protecting camel owners against financial loss from camel death due to disease, accident, or natural calamity. India has ~2.5 lakh camels (20th Livestock Census 2019) — Rajasthan holds 80%–85%. A single Jaisalmeri racing camel can be worth ₹10 lakh+. Surra (Trypanosomiasis) kills camels across Rajasthan. Night road accidents on desert highways are a constant risk. Probitas Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. (IRDAI Lic. No. 528) is your licensed broker.
Draft, pack, agricultural — Bikaneri, Mewari, Bagri breeds; BSF desert patrol
Kharai & Kutchi breeds — camel milk marketed by Amul, Saras; 6x Vitamin C of cow milk
Jaisalmeri breed — Pushkar / Bikaner Festival; Jaisalmer safari; highest SI per animal
BSF Camel Corps — desert border patrol; Rajasthan & Gujarat state police camel units
India's camel population has declined by 37% since 2012 (from 4 lakh to 2.5 lakh), due to mechanisation, urbanisation, and the impact of the Rajasthan Camel Slaughter Prohibition Act 2015 reducing market demand. The Raika / Rebari community of Rajasthan and the Fakirani Jat community of Gujarat (Kutch) are the traditional camel herders whose livelihoods and cultural identity are deeply tied to camel pastoralism. NRCC (National Research Centre on Camel), Bikaner — under ICAR — works to conserve camel breeds and manage camel diseases. Camel Insurance provides economic security for these communities and supports camel breed conservation in India.
Who Can Apply
Every insured camel must be individually identified by a unique ear tag or brand number (hot-iron brand / freeze brand) at inception. The identification must match the veterinary certificate. Camels without valid identification at the time of the claim cannot be claimed. Brand marks on the hide are accepted alongside ear tags as traditional identification for large camel herds.
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi) is the single most economically devastating disease of camels in India. India has the world's highest Surra-affected camel population. Surra is spread by biting flies (Tabanus / Stomoxys), causes progressive emaciation, high fever, and anaemia, and kills camels over weeks to months. Surra deaths are covered under this policy — diagnosed and confirmed by NRCC Bikaner-certified or state AH Dept. veterinarians. Anti-trypanosomal treatment (Quinapyramine sulphate / Cymelarsan) can slow disease progression — but once death occurs from Surra, the claim is payable.
The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act 2015 PROHIBITS camel slaughter in Rajasthan. Camels cannot be transported out of Rajasthan for slaughter. Under this policy, deaths from slaughter are EXCLUDED nationwide. The Act also regulates the temporary migration of camels out of Rajasthan — inter-state movements must be declared to the insurer at inception. This is the first state-level act in India's livestock insurance context that directly reinforces a policy exclusion.
Road accidents are among the most common causes of sudden camel death in Rajasthan. Camels cross desert highways — NH-15 (Jaisalmer), NH-11 (Bikaner), NH-68 (Barmer) — at night and are frequently struck by vehicles. Camel carcasses on national highways at night are a significant road safety issue in western Rajasthan. A Police FIR or incident report from the nearest police station is required for road accident death claims.
| Camel Type / Breed | SI per Camel |
|---|---|
| Young camel (1–3 years) | ₹40,000–₹80,000 |
| Working / pack camel (Bikaneri / Bagri / Mewari) | ₹50,000–₹1,50,000 |
| Trained agricultural camel | ₹80,000–₹2,00,000 |
| Dairy camel (Kharai / Kutchi — milk producer) | ₹1,00,000–₹3,00,000 |
| Racing / show camel (Jaisalmeri trained) | ₹2,00,000–₹10,00,000+ |
| BSF / police / military working camel | ₹1,50,000–₹4,00,000 |
SI = market value certified by a govt.-licensed vet. For camels with SI >₹2,00,000, NRCC-certified examination may be required. Reassessed at each annual renewal.
Rajasthan: Bikaneri (finest pack/draft), Jaisalmeri (finest racing/beauty), Mewari (Udaipur region), Mewati (Haryana/Rajasthan border), Bagri (plains breed), Sindhi (Barmer/Tharparkar).
Gujarat: Kharai (Kutch — unique swimming camel; feeds on mangroves; insurable for tidal drowning), Kutchi (large; dairy/pack).
Ladakh / Himachal: Bactrian (two-humped; cold mountains; very small population).
Plan Comparison
Compare Working, Dairy, Racing/Safari, and Military Camel plans across perils, SI, identification, Rajasthan Act compliance, and RPBY subsidy eligibility.
| Points of Difference | Working / Pack Camel | Dairy / Kharai Camel | Racing / Safari Camel | Military / Police Camel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surra (Trypanosomiasis) Death | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Mange, Camelpox, HS, Anthrax, FMD | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Road Accident (NH-15 / NH-11 / NH-68 night) | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Kharai Tidal Creek Drowning | ✘ No | ✔ Yes (Kharai declared) | ✘ No | ✘ No |
| Flash Flood / Cyclone / Earthquake | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Lightning, Fire, Fall | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Death from Slaughter | ✘ Excluded (Raj. Act 2015) | ✘ Excluded | ✘ Excluded | ✘ Excluded |
| Typical SI per Camel | ₹50,000–₹2,00,000 | ₹1,00,000–₹3,00,000 | ₹2,00,000–₹10,00,000+ | ₹1,50,000–₹4,00,000 |
| Identification Required | Ear tag or brand number | Ear tag or brand + route | Ear tag + racing records | Official corps brand / tag |
| NRCC Exam Required | Only if SI >₹2L | Only if SI >₹2L | ✔ Likely required | As per insurer |
| HS + FMD Vaccination | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Migration Route Declaration | If transhumance occurs | Kharai: mandatory | If seasonal movement | Fixed deployment area |
| RPBY Subsidy | 50%–70% | 50%–70% | 50%–70% | As applicable |
| Police FIR (Road Accident) | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Coverage Under Camel Insurance
Camel Insurance covers Surra / disease death, accidental death (including night road accidents on Rajasthan highways), and natural calamity. 24-hour notification, ear tag photo, and carcass preservation are mandatory for all claims.
Death of any insured camel must be notified to Probitas on 022 4302 0000 within 24 HOURS. Do NOT dispose of, bury, or remove the carcass before the veterinarian examines and certifies cause of death. Photograph the camel and its ear tag / brand number clearly before any disposal. For road accidents: lodge a Police FIR immediately. For Surra / disease: contact the nearest vet and NRCC helpline immediately.
The camel's carcass must NOT be disposed of, buried, or removed before a government / registered veterinarian examines it and issues a cause-of-death certificate. Photograph the camel and its ear tag / brand number clearly. Camel carcasses are large — ensure the ear tag / brand mark is visible in the photograph. Early disposal voids the claim.
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi) is THE most important disease of camels in India. Surra causes progressive emaciation over weeks to months — the camel becomes increasingly weak, develops high fever, anaemia, and eventually dies. NRCC Bikaner (National Research Centre on Camel) is India's premier authority for Surra diagnosis. For Surra death claims, a state AH Dept. vet or NRCC-supported diagnosis confirming Surra as cause of death is required. Anti-trypanosomal treatment is available but Surra remains a major killer — Surra deaths ARE covered under this policy.
Camels crossing desert highways at night are frequently struck by vehicles in western Rajasthan. NH-15 (Jaisalmer–Bikaner), NH-11 (Bikaner–Jaipur), NH-68 (Barmer) are particularly high-risk. For road accident death claims, a Police FIR or police incident report from the nearest police station is required along with the veterinary cause-of-death certificate. Lodge the FIR immediately at the nearest police station before calling Probitas.
The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act 2015 PROHIBITS camel slaughter in Rajasthan — camels cannot be transported out of Rajasthan for slaughter. Under this policy, deaths from slaughter are EXCLUDED nationwide. The Act also regulates inter-state migration — any temporary export of camels from Rajasthan must be declared to the insurer at inception. This is the only rural insurance product in India where a state-level Act directly reinforces a policy exclusion.
Gujarat's Kharai camels (Kutch district) are uniquely adapted to mangrove forests — they swim across tidal creeks to reach mangrove pastures (the only breed of camel in the world known to swim regularly). Accidental drowning during tidal creek crossings due to unexpected tidal surges or strong currents is a covered peril for Kharai camels declared at inception. The Fakirani Jat herder community must declare the tidal / mangrove grazing route and crossing points at inception.
How Claims Are Calculated
Claim = Sum Insured (agreed market value at inception) − Compulsory Excess
Each insured camel is claimed individually by its ear tag / brand number. SI = market value certified by a govt.-licensed vet at inception. For group herd policies: each dead camel claimed individually.
A trained Jaisalmeri racing camel can be worth ₹2,00,000–₹10,00,000+ — the highest per-animal SI in India's rural insurance product range. Value is determined by racing record, competition wins, training level, age (peak racing: 5–10 years), and physical conformation. For racing / show camels with SI >₹2,00,000, NRCC-certified veterinary examination and valuation is required.
For camels with proposed SI above ₹2,00,000 (racing / show / high-yield dairy camels), a valuation and health examination by an NRCC-certified or government veterinarian experienced in camel valuation may be required at inception. NRCC (National Research Centre on Camel), Bikaner, is the premier camel research institution in India — under ICAR. For Surra death claims, NRCC's disease confirmation may also be required to establish cause of death.
This policy pays the sum insured on death — it does NOT cover consequential losses: agricultural work income, milk production revenue, camel safari / tourism fees, racing prize money, or stud fees. Only the agreed SI (minus excess) is payable on death.
| Parameter | Surra Death — Rajasthan Working Camel | Road Accident — Jaisalmeri Highway | Kharai Drowning — Gujarat Kutch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camel Type | Bikaneri working camel (8 years, trained pack) | Jaisalmeri camel (5 years, safari trained) | Kharai camel (6 years, swimming / mangrove camel — Gujarat Kutch) |
| Sum Insured | ₹ 1,20,000 | ₹ 2,50,000 | ₹ 1,80,000 |
| Event / Cause | Trypanosomiasis (Surra) — progressive emaciation over 3 months; NRCC-confirmed Surra; vet certifies Surra as cause of death | Night road accident on NH-15 (Jaisalmer highway) — camel struck by truck; Police FIR filed; vet certifies accidental death | Accidental drowning in tidal creek during mangrove grazing — strong tidal surge; Revenue Dept. + vet confirm drowning; ear tag verified |
| Ear Tag / Brand | Ear tag verified — matches policy | Ear tag verified — matches policy | Ear tag verified — matches policy |
| Gross Claim | ₹ 1,20,000 | ₹ 2,50,000 | ₹ 1,80,000 |
| Compulsory Excess | ₹ 2,000 | ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 2,500 |
| Claim Payable | ₹ 1,18,000 | ₹ 2,47,000 | ₹ 1,77,500 |
| Special Documents | NRCC/AH Dept. Surra diagnosis confirmation + vet cause-of-death cert. | Police FIR (NH-15) + vet accidental death cert. | Revenue Dept. tidal flood certificate + vet drowning cert. + declared Kharai route at inception |
* Illustrative only. Actual settlement depends on vet cause certification, ear tag / brand verification, vaccination records, and policy excess. Road accident claims require Police FIR. Kharai drowning claims require declared tidal route at inception. Surra claims may require NRCC-supported diagnosis.
Policy Conditions
The following 12 conditions are binding under the the insurer Camel Insurance Scheme. Conditions 1 (Ear Tag/Brand), 4 (HS Vaccination), 5 (24-hour notification), 7 (Police FIR for road accident), and 8 (Rajasthan Camel Act 2015) are the most critical.
Ear Tag / Brand Number Mandatory: Every insured camel must be individually identified by a unique ear tag or brand (hot-iron / freeze brand) number at inception. Identification must match the vet certificate. Camels without valid identification cannot be claimed.
Veterinary Health Certificate Mandatory: A health certificate from a govt.-licensed / registered vet — confirming breed, age, health condition, and market value — is mandatory at inception for every insured camel.
Surra Awareness Condition: Surra (Trypanosoma evansi) is the most important camel disease in India. Surra deaths are covered — but deaths where known Surra was not treated due to negligence despite vet advice may not be covered. Anti-trypanosomal treatment (Quinapyramine / Cymelarsan) is available.
HS & FMD Vaccination Mandatory: Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) vaccination (govt. programme) and FMD vaccination are mandatory. Records must be submitted at inception. Camelpox and Anthrax vaccines recommended in endemic areas.
Notify Within 24 HOURS: Death must be notified to Probitas (022 4302 0000) within 24 HOURS. Do NOT dispose of the carcass before vet examination. Photograph the camel and ear tag / brand number clearly.
Do NOT Dispose of Carcass: Carcass must NOT be disposed of, buried, or removed before vet examination and cause-of-death certification. Early disposal voids the claim. Photograph ear tag / brand number clearly before any disposal.
Road Accident — Police FIR Required: For road accident death claims (very common in Rajasthan — NH-15, NH-11, NH-68 night crossings), a Police FIR or incident report from the nearest police station is required along with the vet cause-of-death certificate.
Rajasthan Camel Act 2015: Camel slaughter is PROHIBITED in Rajasthan. Deaths from slaughter are excluded nationwide. The Act also regulates inter-state camel movement — inter-state migrations must be declared to the insurer at inception.
High-Value Camel — NRCC Examination: For camels with proposed SI above ₹2,00,000, a valuation by an NRCC-certified or government veterinarian experienced in camel valuation may be required at inception.
Migration / Transhumance Declaration: For camels undergoing seasonal transhumance (Rajasthan desert ↔ agricultural belt; Gujarat Kutch ↔ mangrove for Kharai), the migration route and grazing areas must be declared at inception. Deaths during undeclared routes may not be covered.
Annual Renewal — Fresh Valuation: At each renewal, a fresh vet certificate confirming current health and market value is required. SI may increase or decrease depending on age, training, and market conditions for the specific camel type.
Cancellation: Either party may cancel on 7 days' written notice. Premium refunded on short-period scale for unexpired term. No refund if a claim has been paid during the policy period.
How to File a Claim
All camel death claims require veterinary cause-of-death certification. For Surra: NRCC-supported diagnosis may be required. For road accidents: Police FIR mandatory. 24-hour notification critical. Call 022 4302 0000.
Surra death claims: Notify Probitas (022 4302 0000) within 24 hours. The state AH Dept. veterinarian or an NRCC-supported diagnosis confirming Trypanosoma evansi as cause of death is required. If the camel showed Surra symptoms, a blood smear / parasitological test before death is helpful for claim documentation. Road accident claims: Lodge a Police FIR at the nearest police station immediately after the accident. The FIR + vet cause-of-death certificate are required. For Kharai tidal drowning: Revenue Dept. / Panchayat flood certificate + vet drowning certificate required.
Call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 within 24 HOURS. Do NOT dispose of the carcass. Photograph the camel and ear tag / brand number clearly. For road accident: lodge a Police FIR immediately. For Surra / disease: contact the nearest vet and NRCC helpline.
A govt. / registered vet examines the carcass and issues a Cause of Death Certificate — certifying breed, ear tag / brand number, and cause (Surra / disease / accident / calamity). For Surra: state AH Dept. or NRCC-supported parasitological confirmation may be required. For Kharai drowning: Revenue Dept. certificate.
Claim Form, Policy doc, Ear tag / brand number of deceased camel, Vet Health Certificate (inception), Vet Cause of Death Certificate, HS + FMD vaccination records, Photographs (ear tag visible), Police FIR (road accident), NRCC/AH Dept. Surra report (if applicable), Bank details for NEFT.
Claim = SI (agreed market value at inception) − Compulsory Excess. Each camel claimed by ear tag / brand number. Payment by NEFT within 30 days of complete documents per IRDAI TAT norms.
Common Questions about Camel Insurance
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