UPSC Current Affairs September 11th 2026

News at a Glance

BRICS: Evolution, Cooperation and India’s 2026 Leadership

Relevance:
UPSC GS Paper II: International Groupings, Global Governance and India’s Foreign Policy.
UPSC GS Paper III: International Economic Cooperation, Innovation and Sustainable Development.

Important Keywords for Prelims and Mains

Prelims: BRICS, Partner Countries, New Development Bank, Contingent Reserve Arrangement, Delhi Declaration, BIMSTEC, BRICS AGRIN, BRICS CONNECT, NIMHANS, Global Value Chains.
Mains: Global South, Reformed Multilateralism, South–South Cooperation, Economic Diplomacy, Financial Resilience, Inclusive Global Governance

Why in News?

India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, during its fourth Chairship.
The theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
More than 350 meetings and high-level engagements across 25 cities have advanced cooperation in agriculture, health, energy, trade, technology and urban development.
The initiatives emerging from ministerial meetings include both established cooperation platforms and proposals requiring further implementation.

What is BRICS?

BRICS is a forum of major emerging economies and developing countries that coordinates positions on international issues and promotes practical cooperation.
It seeks to strengthen the participation of the Global South in international decision-making. Its activities cover development, finance, security, technology, trade and cultural exchanges.

Global Importance

BRICS brings together countries with large populations, major markets, energy resources, agricultural capacity and technological capabilities.

The figures presented for the expanded grouping are:

49.5% of the global population.
Around 40% of global GDP.
26% of global trade.

The GDP figure should be used with its measurement basis clearly identified; it should not automatically be interpreted as a share of nominal GDP.

Evolution and Expansion

From an Economic Acronym to a Cooperation Forum

The term BRIC was introduced in 2001 by economist Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs in the paper “Building Better Global Economic BRICs.” It referred to Brazil, Russia, India and China, whose growing economic importance was expected to reshape the world economy.

Year	Development
2001	The BRIC acronym was introduced.
2006	Cooperation among the four countries took an institutional form through diplomatic dialogue.
2008	The global financial crisis strengthened demands for reform of international financial governance.
2009	The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
2010–2011	South Africa was invited in 2010 and first participated as a member in 2011, transforming BRIC into BRICS.
2014	The agreement establishing the New Development Bank was signed at Fortaleza, Brazil.
2024	Membership expansion substantially widened the grouping’s reach.
2025	Indonesia joined, while partner-country engagement expanded.
2026	India assumed its fourth Chairship.

Role of the 2008 Financial Crisis

The crisis exposed weaknesses in the global financial system. BRIC countries sought:

Greater representation in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
A more balanced international financial architecture.
Opposition to protectionism.
Support for an open, rules-based multilateral trading system.

These shared positions helped establish the foundation for regular summit-level cooperation.

Full Members

India’s September 2026 official listing identifies 11 BRICS members:
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
The expansion process brought in countries from Africa and West Asia during 2024, followed by Indonesia in January 2025.

Partner Countries

The Partner Country category provides structured engagement without granting full membership.
The 10 partner countries identified during 2025 are:
Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
This wider network creates opportunities for cooperation in trade, finance, climate action and development across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eurasia.

Objectives and Areas of Cooperation

BRICS seeks a more representative and balanced international order while addressing the development needs of its members.

Global Governance Reform: Greater representation and equity in institutions such as the IMF, World Bank and WTO.
Inclusive Development: Sustainable economic growth, social inclusion and shared prosperity.
Economic Cooperation: Trade, investment, agriculture, international finance and telecommunications.
Security Cooperation: Counter-terrorism and dialogue on international and regional issues.
Resource Security: Food security, energy security and climate resilience.
Social Cooperation: Health, labour, employment, education, youth and cultural exchanges.

Three Pillars of BRICS Cooperation

Political and Security Cooperation
Economic and Financial Cooperation
Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges

Presidency and Financial Mechanisms

Rotating Chairship

The BRICS Chairship runs from January 1 to December 31.

The chair country:

Sets annual priorities.
Hosts the leaders’ summit.
Coordinates ministerial and working-group meetings.
Facilitates consensus and follow-up.

The traditional rotation followed the sequence of the original BRICS members. An updated rotation formula is being discussed following expansion.

New Development Bank

The New Development Bank (NDB) mobilises resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
India proposed examining such a bank at the 2012 New Delhi Summit. The agreement establishing it was signed at the 2014 Fortaleza Summit.

Contingent Reserve Arrangement

The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) is intended to provide short-term liquidity support during external financial pressures.
Key Distinction: The NDB finances development projects, whereas the CRA provides a financial safety mechanism against liquidity difficulties.

India’s Previous Chairships

India chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016 and 2021 before assuming the role in 2026.

2012: New Delhi Summit

India hosted the Fourth BRICS Summit on March 29, 2012.
Theme: “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity.”
The summit adopted the Delhi Declaration and an Action Plan.

Major Contributions

Proposed exploring a development bank for infrastructure and sustainable development.
Signed the Master Agreement on Extending Credit Facility in Local Currency to support intra-BRICS economic activity.
Advanced discussions on financial cooperation and safety mechanisms.
Strengthened cooperation in agriculture, health and science.
Addressed governance reform, sustainable development, food security and energy security.

2016: Goa Summit

India hosted the Eighth BRICS Summit in October 2016.
Theme: “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions.”

Major Contributions

Consolidated the NDB’s early operations, including its first loans, primarily supporting renewable-energy projects.
Prioritised clean energy, energy access and energy security.
Strengthened health cooperation on HIV and tuberculosis.
Advanced counter-terrorism cooperation and adherence to FATF standards.
Promoted cooperation through the Agriculture Research Platform, Railway Research Network, Sports Council and youth forums.

BRICS–BIMSTEC Outreach

The outreach summit connected BRICS with the wider Bay of Bengal region. Discussions covered terrorism, trade, energy, investment, environment, technology and infrastructure.

2021: Virtual Summit

India hosted the 13th BRICS Summit on September 9, 2021, marking the grouping’s 15th anniversary.
Theme: “BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus.”

Major Contributions

Adoption of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan.
Organisation of the first BRICS Digital Health Summit.
Agreement on the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation, supporting environmental protection, disaster management and climate monitoring.
Advancement of vaccine research cooperation.
Cooperation through the BRICS Alliance for Green Tourism and the first BRICS Water Ministers Meeting.

The BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre was endorsed during India’s 2021 Chairship and formally launched jointly on March 22, 2022.

Major Initiatives under India’s 2026 Chairship

India assumed the Chairship on January 1, 2026. Ministerial meetings have advanced the following initiatives.

1. Agriculture and Food-System Resilience

BRICS Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology: Support joint research, knowledge exchange and capacity building in natural, organic and regenerative farming. Initial coordination is assigned to ICAR–Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram.
BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture: Promotes AI-based decision support, geospatial intelligence, IoT monitoring and advanced data analytics. IIT Delhi is the initial coordinating institution.
BRICS AGRIN: The Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network is a voluntary, farmer-centred framework for cooperation in seeds, germplasm and agricultural inputs.

2. Preventive Healthcare

The BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle, accompanied by a 2026–2029 roadmap, promotes prevention of obesity and other non-communicable diseases.
It supports technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and coordinated awareness across different stages of life.

3. Traditional and Integrative Medicine

The Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) provides a platform for:

Policy dialogue and evidence-based research.
Capacity building and academic exchanges.
Digital knowledge platforms.
Quality and regulatory standards.
Protection of traditional and indigenous knowledge.

4. Mental Health Cooperation

A BRICS Training Hub Network and Network of Centres of Excellence, coordinated by NIMHANS, India, seek to strengthen mental-health services.
Their priorities include professional upskilling, standardised training, task-sharing and integration of mental well-being into primary healthcare.

5. Traditional Knowledge and Climate Adaptation

Members adopted principles supporting:

People-centred and community-based climate adaptation.
Academic collaboration on traditional and indigenous knowledge systems.

These initiatives recognise the contribution of local knowledge to climate resilience.

6. Sustainable Lifestyles

A Network of BRICS Institutions and Sustainable Lifestyles Week support:

Sharing policies and practical experiences.
Research and innovation.
Capacity-building workshops.
Dialogue among academic institutions and other stakeholders.
Compilation of case studies.

7. Employment and Skills: BRICS CONNECT

BRICS CONNECT means Cooperation Network for Capacity Building, Employability, and New Skills and Technologies.

Building on the BRICS Virtual Liaison Office, it covers four areas:

Social-security capacity building.
Women’s participation in the workforce.
Skills and employability.
Digital Public Infrastructure.

Participation is voluntary and non-binding.

8. Smart Grids and Energy Storage

The BRICS Guiding Principles on Energy Storage and Smart Grids and a Digital Centre of Excellence support:

Knowledge sharing and technical training.
Exchange of policy and regulatory practices.
Pilot initiatives.

Smart grids and storage can help electricity systems manage renewable-energy generation and changing demand.

9. Sustainable Urban Development

BRICS Urban Mobility Hub: A virtual platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building and technical cooperation in sustainable transport.
Voluntary Principles for Climate-Resilient Urban Infrastructure: Integrate climate and disaster risks into planning, design, investment, construction and maintenance.
Urban Research and Knowledge Network: Encourages applied research, cross-country learning and institutional collaboration.

10. MSME Cooperation

The BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal connects enterprises, technology centres, clusters, trade associations, financial institutions, training bodies and policymakers.

It is supported by:

An institutionalised Dialogue on MSME Finance.
A Workplan on the Internationalisation of MSMEs.

Together, these initiatives aim to improve access to finance and overseas markets.

11. Start-ups and Innovation

BRICS Incubator Network: Connects national nodal agencies, selected incubators and start-ups. It enables enterprise registration, institutional linkages and referrals across countries.
BRICS Startup Innovation Fund: Intended to support early- and growth-stage enterprises.
BRICS Science and Research Repository: Provides a structured platform for storing and sharing scientific knowledge.

12. Logistics and Supply Chains

The BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework is voluntary and consensus-based.

It addresses fragmented supply chains and weak connectivity through:

Technical exchange on cargo and shipping services.
Knowledge sharing on local assembly and manufacturing.
Capacity building.
Environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient logistics.

13. Global Value Chains

The GVC Action Plan, 2026–2030, includes a Technical Council and Joint Study.
Its objectives are to improve production-network resilience, efficiency and productivity, while supporting market opening and economic diversification.
A global value chain involves different stages of producing a good or service taking place across countries.

14. Customs Cooperation

Members expressed in-principle approval and willingness to sign the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.

It aims to:

Accelerate legitimate trade.
Reduce transaction costs.
Strengthen border security.
Improve the business environment.
Address illicit trade.

In-principle approval is distinct from signing or bringing an agreement into force.

15. Standardisation

An MoU signed by BRICS National Standards Body Heads supports cooperation in developing, adopting and implementing standards.
It also promotes information exchange, technical training and quality infrastructure, helping protect consumers and reduce technical barriers to trade.

16. Youth Cooperation

The BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework, 2026, provides a reference for continuity and structured engagement under the youth track.
It supports dialogue, experience sharing and consideration of practical initiatives.

17. Sports Technology

A new Sports Technology Working Group promotes the exchange of good practices, institutional experience, technical information and research.

Significance for India and the Global South

Reformed Multilateralism: BRICS provides a collective platform to seek more representative global institutions.
Development Cooperation: Agriculture, health, skills and infrastructure initiatives connect diplomacy with everyday development needs.
Economic Opportunities: MSME and start-up networks can improve market access, research links and business collaboration.
Climate and Energy Resilience: Cooperation supports sustainable infrastructure, energy transitions and adaptation.
India’s Leadership: India can build consensus among diverse members and share experience in digital systems, skills and public-service delivery.
South–South Exchange: Members and partners can learn from each other’s development approaches.

Challenges

Divergent Interests: Different strategic priorities and economic structures can make consensus difficult.
Implementation Gaps: Announcements need finance, staff, institutional responsibilities and sustained follow-up.
Unequal Capacities: Some members may need additional support to participate in advanced technology and research programmes.
Coordination Complexity: Expansion increases the need for clear arrangements on chairship rotation and partner engagement.
Global Uncertainty: Economic fragmentation, geopolitical tensions, technological disruption and climate pressures can affect cooperation.

Way Forward

Prioritise Practical Outcomes: Focus on initiatives with clear development benefits and realistic timelines.
Ensure Institutional Continuity: Carry agreed projects forward across successive chairships.
Strengthen Capacity Building: Enable less-resourced participants to benefit from cooperation.
Clarify Implementation Status: Distinguish proposals, agreements, launched platforms and operational programmes.
Review Results: Assess outcomes in trade, skills, research, public services and resilience.

Conclusion

BRICS has evolved into a broad platform for cooperation among emerging economies. India’s 2026 Chairship seeks to convert wider representation into meaningful development outcomes. Effective implementation and sustained consensus will determine its contribution to global governance. A practical and inclusive approach can strengthen South–South cooperation and sustainable development.

CARE MCQ

Q1. Consider the following statements:

The BRIC acronym originated before the first BRIC Summit.
South Africa participated as a member in the first BRIC Summit at Yekaterinburg.
Indonesia became a full member before the January 2024 expansion.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 only

Statement-wise Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The acronym originated in 2001, while the first summit was held in 2009.
Statement 2 is incorrect: South Africa first participated as a member in 2011.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Indonesia joined in January 2025.

FAQs

1. What is the theme of India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship?

“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

2. When did India previously chair BRICS?

In 2012, 2016 and 2021.

3. What is the difference between the NDB and CRA?

The NDB supports development projects, while the CRA provides short-term liquidity support.

4. Are partner countries full BRICS members?

No. Partner status provides a separate channel for structured engagement.

5. Which Indian institutions coordinate important 2026 initiatives?

ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram, IIT Delhi and NIMHANS coordinate specified agricultural and mental-health initiatives.

Sources: PIB

PMMSY: Transforming India’s Fisheries and Blue Economy

Relevance: UPSC GS Paper III: Fisheries, food security, infrastructure, technology and sustainable development.water resources, sustainable development

Important Keywords for Prelims and Mains

Prelims: PMMSY, PM-MKSSY, Blue Economy, NFDP, FFPO, NFDB, RAS, Biofloc Technology, mariculture, seaweed cultivation, aquaparks, SDG 14.

Mains: Fisheries Value Chain, Post-Harvest Management, Coastal Livelihoods, Digital Formalisation, Climate Resilience, Collective Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Aquaculture

Why in News?

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) completed six years in September 2026. Fish production, fisheries exports and employment have increased, while investments have expanded into cold chains, aquaculture technologies, digital platforms and coastal resilience.

What is the Importance of India’s Fisheries Sector?

The fisheries sector supports the livelihoods of nearly three crore people, particularly fishing communities, small fish farmers and other coastal and rural households.
It is considered a sunrise sector because it has considerable potential for production, employment, exports and technological development.

Fish is also an important source of affordable animal protein. Therefore, the sector contributes to:

Nutritional and food security
Rural employment
Export earnings
Women’s participation
Coastal economic development
Diversification of farmers’ incomes

Fisheries includes marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture. Thus, it is connected with both the Blue Economy and the wider rural economy.

What is the Blue Economy?

The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, employment and livelihoods while protecting marine ecosystems.It includes fisheries, aquaculture, ports, shipping, tourism, offshore energy and marine biotechnology.
PMMSY supports the Blue Economy by promoting responsible fishing, modern aquaculture, resilient coastal communities and stronger fisheries infrastructure.

What is PMMSY?

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was launched in 2020
implemented by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
It builds upon the earlier Blue Revolution Scheme and seeks to address gaps across the fisheries value chain.
A fisheries value chain covers all activities from breeding and production to harvesting, storage, transport, processing and marketing.

Major Objectives

Increase fish production and productivity.
Modernise fisheries and aquaculture.
Improve the incomes of fishers and fish farmers.
Generate employment in fisheries-related activities.
Strengthen cold storage, transport and market facilities.
Promote exports and increase the sector’s Gross Value Added.
Improve the safety and social security of fishers.
Strengthen fisheries management and regulation.
Encourage sustainable use of aquatic resources.

What are the Components of PMMSY?

PMMSY is an umbrella scheme consisting of two components.

Central Sector Component

It is funded and implemented by the Union Government. It supports:

Genetic improvement and fisheries research
Innovation and technology demonstration
Training and capacity building
Aquatic quarantine and disease surveillance
Modernisation of fishing harbours
Fisheries databases and information systems
Safety of fishers at sea
Fish Farmers Producer Organisations
Cooperatives and Self-Help Groups
Certification, accreditation, labelling and traceability
Strengthening of the National Fisheries Development Board

Centrally Sponsored Component

It is jointly supported by the Union and State governments and implemented through States and Union Territories.

Its major areas include:

Production: Inland fisheries, marine fisheries, mariculture, seaweed cultivation and ornamental fisheries.
Infrastructure: Fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold chains, markets and coastal fishing villages.
Management: Monitoring, control, surveillance, insurance and extension services.
Welfare: Safety at sea and nutritional and livelihood support for fishing communities.

What is PM-MKSSY?

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) is a Central Sector sub-scheme under PMMSY.
It is being implemented across all States and Union Territories from 2023–24 to 2026–27.

Objectives of PM-MKSSY

Formalise the fisheries sector.
Expand insurance coverage.
Improve access to institutional credit.
Promote quality assurance.
Introduce traceability across the value chain.
Reduce financial risks faced by fishers.
Improve access to organised markets.

Formalisation helps fishers and fish farmers access government support, bank credit, insurance and organised markets.

How has PMMSY Strengthened the Fisheries Sector?

Growth in Production and Exports

Fish production increased from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019–20 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024–25.
Fisheries exports increased from ₹46,663 crore to ₹73,890 crore during the corresponding period mentioned in the official data.
PMMSY has also generated direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 58 lakh people in fisheries and aquaculture-related activities.

Aquaculture Development

The scheme supports:

Integrated aquaparks
Reservoir cage culture
Pond-based inland aquaculture
Seaweed cultivation
Ornamental fish production
Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems
Biofloc units

An Integrated Aquapark brings production, processing, storage, marketing, training and other fisheries services together within a common infrastructure system.

Post-Harvest Infrastructure

Fish is highly perishable and requires proper storage immediately after harvesting. PMMSY therefore supports:

Ice plants and cold-storage facilities
Refrigerated and insulated transport
Live-fish vending units
Fish kiosks
Retail and wholesale markets
Fishing harbours
Fish landing centres
Dredging of harbour channels

Such facilities reduce spoilage, improve food safety and allow producers to reach distant markets.

Porbandar Ice-Plant Example

A fisheries entrepreneur in Porbandar, Gujarat, received assistance under PMMSY to establish an ice plant.
The facility supplies ice to fishing boats, helping them preserve fish during fishing operations. It demonstrates how post-harvest infrastructure can reduce losses and strengthen small fisheries enterprises.

How does PMMSY Empower Fishing Communities?

Fish Farmers Producer Organisations

Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs) bring fishers and fish farmers together as collective enterprises.
PMMSY has supported the formation of 2,195 FFPOs through assistance for incubation, management and equity.

FFPOs can help members:

Purchase inputs collectively.
Improve bargaining power.
Access institutional credit.
Use storage and transport facilities.
Undertake processing and marketing.
Negotiate better prices.

Climate-Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages

PMMSY has identified 100 coastal fishing villages for development as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages.

The initiative supports:

Climate-resilient infrastructure
Alternative livelihood opportunities
Post-harvest facilities
Economic development of coastal communities
Improved capacity to face extreme weather events

This is relevant because fishing communities face cyclones, coastal erosion, changing fish distribution and damage to boats and infrastructure.

What Technologies are Promoted under PMMSY?

Recirculatory Aquaculture System

A Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) treats and recirculates water used for fish farming.

It:

Removes waste and impurities.
Reduces the need for fresh water.
Allows fish farming in limited space.
Supports controlled and high-density production.

However, RAS requires reliable electricity, technical knowledge and continuous monitoring of water quality.

Biofloc Technology

Biofloc Technology uses beneficial microorganisms to recycle nutrients and waste present in water.

These microorganisms form small clusters called bioflocs, which:

Help maintain water quality.
Provide supplementary natural feed.
Reduce the need for frequent water replacement.
Support intensive fish production in small areas.

How is the Fisheries Sector Being Digitised?

The National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) was launched under PM-MKSSY in September 2024.
It creates work-based digital identities and a national database of fisheries stakeholders.

Major Functions

Formal registration of fishers and fish farmers
Access to institutional credit
Aquaculture insurance
Product traceability
Performance-based incentives
Training and capacity building
Support to fisheries cooperatives
Single-window access to services

The platform has recorded more than 37 lakh registrations, indicating its role in bringing stakeholders into the formal system.

Significance of PMMSY

Livelihood Security: Supports incomes and employment among fishing and coastal communities.
Nutritional Security: Expands the availability of protein-rich food.
Export Promotion: Improves quality, traceability and access to international markets.
Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses: Cold chains and transport help preserve fish.
Women’s Empowerment: SHGs and producer organisations create opportunities in aquaculture, processing and marketing.
Climate Resilience: Supports coastal villages and livelihood diversification.
Digital Governance: NFDP connects stakeholders with finance, insurance and government services.
Sustainable Development: Responsible fisheries contribute to SDG 14—Life Below Water.
Cooperative Federalism: Union and State governments jointly implement the Centrally Sponsored component.

Challenges

Overexploitation of Resources: Excessive fishing can reduce fish stocks and disturb aquatic ecosystems.
Post-Harvest Losses: Cold-storage and processing facilities remain unevenly distributed.
Climate Vulnerability: Cyclones, ocean warming and coastal erosion affect fishing livelihoods.
Limited Institutional Credit: Small fishers often depend on informal sources of finance.
Disease Risks: Intensive aquaculture can increase disease outbreaks without proper monitoring.
Digital Divide: Limited connectivity and digital literacy can restrict access to NFDP services.
Implementation Gaps: Sanctioned infrastructure must be completed, maintained and used effectively.
Marine Pollution: Plastics, industrial waste and untreated sewage affect aquatic resources.

Way Forward

Adopt Scientific Fisheries Management: Use stock assessments, seasonal restrictions and monitoring to prevent overfishing.
Strengthen Cold Chains: Expand storage, transport and processing facilities near landing and production centres.
Promote Producer Organisations: Enable FFPOs to manage inputs, credit, processing and marketing collectively.
Improve Credit and Insurance: Ensure that digital registration leads to usable financial services.
Strengthen Extension Services: Train producers in disease control, water-quality management and sustainable aquaculture.
Develop Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Protect harbours, villages and post-harvest facilities from extreme weather.
Ensure Digital Inclusion: Provide local assistance for registration and platform-based services.
Protect Aquatic Ecosystems: Integrate production targets with pollution control and ecological carrying capacity.

Conclusion

PMMSY has expanded the scope of fisheries development from production to infrastructure, technology, welfare and digital governance. Its success will depend on improving fishers’ incomes while conserving aquatic resources. Strong producer institutions, scientific management and climate-resilient infrastructure can make fisheries an important pillar of India’s inclusive and sustainable Blue Economy.

CARE MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana:

It covers both marine and inland fisheries.
PM-MKSSY is a Central Sector sub-scheme under PMMSY.
The National Fisheries Digital Platform supports formalisation and access to institutional services.
Biofloc Technology requires continuous replacement of the entire water used for fish farming.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Statement-wise Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: PMMSY supports marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture.
Statement 2 is correct: PM-MKSSY operates as a Central Sector sub-scheme under PMMSY.
Statement 3 is correct: NFDP provides digital identities and facilitates credit, insurance, traceability and other services.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Biofloc systems generally require limited water exchange because beneficial microorganisms recycle nutrients in the water.