Government Schemes / Animal Husbandry — UPSC Mains Model Answer

PMMSY operates under the 'Blue Revolution' framework with a substantial outlay, making it the largest investment in fisheries infrastructure in India's history. It adopts a cluster-based approach covering marine, inland, and aquaculture sub-sectors. The scheme functions through central, state, and beneficiary contribution components to ensure shared accountability.

The scheme targets significant enhancement in fish production, aiming to raise output to around 22 million metric tonnes by 2024–25. It seeks to generate approximately 55 lakh additional employment opportunities, with particular focus on women and marginalised fishing communities. Doubling fishers' incomes through value chain modernisation is a central goal.

PMMSY prioritises cold chain logistics, fish landing centres, and processing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses, which currently erode a significant share of output value. Integration of traceability systems and quality certification strengthens export competitiveness. Digital platforms for market linkages are being promoted to eliminate intermediary exploitation.

Fragmented landholding among small-scale fishers, inadequate insurance penetration, and climate-induced stock depletion constrain ground-level outcomes. Inter-agency coordination between the Department of Fisheries, state governments, and financial institutions remains uneven. Ensuring that benefits reach inland and deep-sea fishers equitably requires sustained administrative oversight.