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GS Paper: GS1

  • Discuss whether the formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India.

    Formation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand in 2000, Telangana in 2014, and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 were driven by demands for administrative efficiency, regional development, identity recognition, and better governance.

    Benefits of new state formation for the economy of India

    Higher growth rate – Eg- Uttarakhand’s economy has grown over 20 times in size in 23 years

    Balanced regional development – Addresses neglect of backward regions within larger states. Eg- Uttarakhand focused on hill infrastructure and tourism-led growth.

    Improved capital expenditure prioritization – Eg- Telangana increased irrigation spending through projects like Kaleshwaram.

    Fiscal focus on local needs – Eg- Hill-area connectivity in Uttarakhand vs plains-focused spending earlier.

    Better resource utilization –

    Telangana focused on IT and Pharma, leading to a GSDP share increase from 4.1% in 2014 to nearly 5% of national GDP by 2024-25.

    Jharkhand (40% of India’s mineral wealth) and Chhattisgarh significantly improved their mining and steel output post-formation.

    Employment generation – Eg- New state secretariats, universities, and agencies creating jobs.

    Competitive federalism gains – States innovate to attract investment. Eg- Telangana’s TS-iPASS single-window clearance system.

    Urban growth engines – New capitals stimulate construction and services. Eg- Development of Amravati in Andhra Pradesh.

    Administrative efficiency – reduced the “distance” between the government and the governed lead to faster and efficient decision-making. Eg- improved PDS coverage in Chhattisgarh.

    Counter-arguments – drawbacks for the economy of India

    Revenue dependence – New states rely heavily on central transfers.

    Uneven development within new states – Eg- Tribal belts in Chhattisgarh remain underdeveloped.

    Fragmentation of the national market – Eg- Different state-level compliances increasing transaction costs.

    Inter-state disputes over resources – Water, power, and assets become contentious. Eg- Krishna-Godavari water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

    High administrative costs –

    Creation of capitals, assemblies, and cadres strains finances. Eg- creation of Amravati

    Increase in per-unit costs of administration due to duplication of departments.

    Over-Administration also fuels corruption. Eg- Pooja Singhal case

    Weak institutional capacity – New administrations take time to mature. Eg- Staffing shortages and governance gaps in Uttarakhand.

    No automatic growth guarantee – Outcomes depend on governance quality. Eg- political instability in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh deter long-term foreign investment.

    Environmental Degradation- Eg- industrialization and urbanization has led to disasters like the 2013 Kedarnath floods and 2023 Joshimath subsidence – High economic losses

    Way Forward

    Formation 2nd state reorganisation commission as suggested by Sudha Pai

    Strengthening cooperative federalism through Inter-state council – mandatory meetings and enforcement powers

    Strengthening fiscal federalism – Eg- state representation in Finance commission

    New state formation should be guided by objective economic criteria and robust transition planning to ensure that political reorganization strengthens economic growth.

  • What are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem?

    A Dead Zone is an area of a water body (ocean, lake, or estuary) where oxygen levels are so low (hypoxia) that they can no longer support most marine life. It results from Eutrophication, which fuels algal blooms.

    Consequences of Spreading ‘Dead Zones’

    Mass Mortality of Benthic Life- Sedentary organisms like clams, oysters, and lobsters cannot flee oxygen-poor waters. Eg- “crab kills” along the Oregon coast in early 2026 due to hypoxic events.

    Loss of Marine Biodiversity – Sensitive species disappear while only hypoxia-tolerant organisms survive. Eg- Decline of benthic fauna in the Baltic Sea.

    Increase in Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) – Dead zones often coincide with toxic blooms that release neurotoxins.

    Decline in Coral and Seagrass Ecosystems – Hypoxia weakens coral reefs and seagrass beds that require oxygenated waters.

    Forced Habitat Migration- Eg- In the Gulf of America, shrimp populations have shifted to “crowded edges” of the dead zone, leading to over-competition for food.

    Disruption of Marine Food Webs- The loss of bottom-dwelling prey species starves higher-level predators.

    Nutritional & Reproductive Impairment- hypoxia causes endocrine disruption, leading to smaller eggs and reduced spawning success.

    Hypoxic zones favor resilient, “opportunistic” species that thrive in low-oxygen environments. Eg- jellyfish blooms in the Sea of Japan.

    Release of Toxic Substances – Oxygen-poor conditions lead to release of hydrogen sulfide and methane, harmful to marine life.

    Way Forward

    Nutrient Management Plans- Implementing Precision Agriculture to reduce fertilizer runoff.

    Riparian Buffer Zones- Creating “Green Belts” of vegetation along rivers to filter out nutrients before they reach the ocean. Eg- Chesapeake Bay Model.

    Upgrade Wastewater Treatment- Transitioning to Tertiary Treatment plants that specifically remove nitrogen and phosphorus.

    Restore Natural Filters- Large-scale restoration of Wetlands and Oysters, which act as natural water purifiers.

    Shifting to Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), where seaweed and shellfish absorb excess nutrients from fish farms.

    Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) – Coordinated management of coastal resources to reduce pollution and habitat degradation.

    Protecting ocean oxygen levels is essential for sustaining healthy marine ecosystems and the livelihoods dependent on them.

  • Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.

    In the Indian context, communalism refers to a political ideology that uses religious identity to mobilize groups for secular ends. As per T.K. Oommen, it is the “politicization of religious identity.”

    Power Struggle Leading to Communalism

    Colonial Legacy of “Divide and Rule”- The British used communalism to prevent the rise of a united nationalist front. Eg- separate electorates under Morley-Minto Reforms.

    Partition of India due to power struggle between Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha.

    Electoral Mobilization- “communal polarization” for vote bank politics. Eg- Ram Janmabhoomi movement

    The Institutionalized Riot System – Paul Brass argues that riots are produced through three stages- Preparation (constant tension), Activation, and Explanation for electoral benefits. Eg- hate speech-riots-blame game.

    Instrumentalist school- as per Asghar Ali Engineer, it is a tool used by the elites to safeguard their leadership and prevent class-based mobilization of the poor.

    Administrative Partisanship- If the state machinery appears biased, it emboldens communal actors. Eg- administrative paralysis during 1984 Anti-Sikh riots.

    Politicization of history – Eg- Conflicts over Gyanvapi Mosque or Shahi Idgah serve as sites for asserting cultural and political hegemony.

    Separatist movements like Khalistan and insurgency in North-East highlights struggle for political autonomy

    Political underrepresentation – Lack of voice in governance intensifies alienation. Eg- only 24 muslim MPs in 18th LS

    Relative Deprivation Leading to Communalism

    As per Ted Robert Gurr, relative deprivation occurs when there is a perceived gap between a group’s “value expectations” and their “value capabilities”.

    Sir Syed Ahmed Khan advised Muslims not to join congress to increase their representation in government jobs. (Loyal Muhammadans of India – book)

    Socio-Economic Backwardness –

    Sachar Committee Report (2006) highlighted the lack of Muslims in government jobs, fueling a sense of systemic deprivation.

    Ghettoization and poverty in cities foster “us vs. them” mentalities.

    Economic Competition and conflict

    1961 Jabalpur Riots due to competition between Hindu and Muslim bidi entrepreneurs

    Conflicts over resources are given a communal color to mobilize support quickly. Eg- Moplah revolt of 1921 by Mapilla muslims against muslim landlords

    Majoritarianism- fear among minorities of suppression of their language or traditions by a secular or majority culture. Eg- portest against triple talaq.

    Educational Mismatch- illiteracy and unemployment among youth makes them susceptible to communal outfits that offer a sense of identity and purpose. Eg- Burhan Vani

    Migration and fear of demographic change- Native populations feel deprived of jobs by “outsiders.” Eg- Communal tensions in Assam due to migration of Bangladeshi muslims

    Way Forward

    Implementing the Prakash Singh Directives to ensure the police act as an impartial force during tensions

    Implementing recommendations of the Amitabh Kundu Committee to ensure development reaches the “bottom-most” layers of all communities.

    Civic Integration (Ashutosh Varshney) through mixed-religion residential societies and business associations to act as a buffer against riots.

    Regulating Hate Speech- Strict enforcement of MCC during elections.

    Community Policing- Scaling models like Mohalla Committees (Mumbai).

    Establishing Fast Track Courts to ensure timely persecution of perpetrators of riot

    Inclusive development policies and ethical political leadership are needed to ensure that power competition does not fracture social cohesion and deprivation does not become a communal grievance.

  • Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.

    The Aspirational Districts Programme, is aimed at transforming 112 most under-developed districts. It shifts the development narrative from “backwardness” to “aspiration,” focusing on localized governance rather than a top-down approach.

    Core Strategies for Transformation of Aspirational Districts

    Thematic Weightage- Health & Nutrition (30%), Education (30%), Agriculture & Water (20%), Financial Inclusion & Skill Dev (10%), and Basic Infrastructure (10%).

    Outcome-Based Governance – Progress is measured through 49 KPIs

    Evidence-Based Policy- Third-party surveys (by agencies like IDinsight and Tata Trusts) validate data to ensure transparency.

    District-Centric Planning – Empowering District Collectors to customize interventions.

    Appointing Prabhari Officers- Senior Central and State officials act as mentors to bridge the gap between policy and implementation.

    Real-Time Monitoring through “Champions of Change” Dashboard

    Human Capital Focus – Eg- Reduction in malnutrition and school dropouts.

    Jan Andolan- Transformation is treated as a social movement, engaging citizens in schemes like Poshan Abhiyaan.

    Convergence

    Centre-State-District Alignment – Pooling resources and schemes. Eg- using MGNREGA labor to build schools under Samagra Shiksha.

    Inter-Departmental Coordination for breaking silos among line departments. Eg- Joint planning by health, women & child development, rural development.

    Financial and Administrative Convergence for optimal use of funds, avoiding duplication and plugging last-mile gaps.

    Collaboration

    Cooperative federalism- Prabhari officers (Centre) and Nodal officers (State) work as a single team

    Philanthropic Alliances- Partnerships with organizations like Piramal Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for technical support.

    Development Partners – Technical support and best practices. Eg- world Bank

    Competition

    Unique “delta ranking” system to promote healthy competition and transparent performance comparison.

    Incentive Grants- Top-performing districts receive additional financial rewards (up to â‚č10 crore).

    Peer Learning- Rankings encourage low-performing districts to study and replicate the “Best Practices”.

    Success of this model has paved the way for the Aspirational Blocks Programme, ensuring that the spirit of Convergence, Collaboration, and Competition reaches the last mile of Indian democracy.

  • Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation?

    The IRNSS, operationally named NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), is India’s indigenous satellite navigation system developed by Indian Space Research Organisation.

    Need of IRNSS/NavIC

    Strategic Autonomy – Dependence on foreign systems like GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), or Galileo (EU) poses security risks, as access can be denied during conflicts. Eg- During the Kargil War (1999), USA denied GPS data to India.

    Sovereignty over Navigation – Provides India independent and reliable Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services over Indian territory and surrounding region.

    Regional Coverage – Covers India and a region extending 1,500 km beyond its borders, ensuring accurate navigation across South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.

    Civilian Applications – Terrestrial, aerial, and marine navigation; vehicle tracking; disaster management; mapping and geodetic surveys; mobile phone integration.

    Military Applications – Missile guidance, troop movement, naval operations, border surveillance.

    Economic Benefits – Supports precision agriculture, fisheries, transport logistics, and infrastructure development.

    How NavIC Helps in Navigation

    Constellation – 7 satellites (3 in Geostationary Orbit, 4 in Geosynchronous Orbit) provide continuous coverage over the Indian region.

    Dual Frequency – Operates on L5 and S-band, reducing errors caused by ionospheric delays and providing better accuracy than single-frequency systems.

    Accuracy – Provides position accuracy better than 20 metres in the primary service area and 10 metres for restricted (military) service.

    Two Services – Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian use and Restricted Service (RS) for authorised users (military, strategic).

    Integration with international systems like GPS for enhanced accuracy and reliability.

    Fishermen Safety – Indian Space Research Organisation provides NavIC-based communication devices to fishermen for receiving emergency alerts and location-based services.

    NavIC represents India’s technological self-reliance in the strategic domain of satellite navigation, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

  • Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.’ Explain by giving reasons.

    Though 24.82 crore people escaped multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23, around 11.28% of the population still lives under poverty. (NITI Aayog)

    Various programmes for eradication of poverty

    MGNREGA- Wage employment.

    PMAY (G & U)- Housing for all.

    Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (Free food grains to 81 crore people).

    Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY)- World’s largest health insurance scheme.

    DAY-NRLM- Self-help groups.

    PM-Jan Dhan Yojana- Financial inclusion and bank account access.

    Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

    Reasons Behind the Persistence of Poverty

    Jobless growth due to shift from agriculture to service led growth instead of manufacturing led growth. Eg- service sector contributes 55% of GDP but employs only 30% of workforce

    Corruption in PDS

    Ghost beneficiaries (10 lakh in Ayushman Bharat as per CAG)

    Inclusion and exclusion errors

    Low Agricultural Productivity-

    Employs nearly 45% of the workforce, but it contributes only ~17% to the GDP.

    Small and fragmented landholdings (86%) keep rural incomes at subsistence levels.

    Over 90% of the Indian workforce is in the informal sector – lack social security and stable wages, leading to “working poverty.”

    Social Stratification- Caste-based and gender-based discrimination.

    96% manual scavengers are Dalits

    Women own only 13% of land while forming 63% of agriculture workforce

    Population Pressure (1.35 billion) strains public infrastructure, housing, and the job market.

    Economic Inequality – richest 1% control more than 40% of total wealth, while the bottom 50% own merely 3% (Oxfam Report)

    High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in healthcare (40%) pushes “near-poor” families back into poverty.

    Rural-Urban divide – Poor access to quality education and vocational training limits employability.

    Regional disparities – BIMARU states lag behind southern states in human development indicators.

    To bridge the remaining gap and achieve SDG-1, the government must move from Welfare to Empowerment (Capability Building) model of development.

  • Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times.

    Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the nation) combined ethics, politics, and social reform, offering a timeless framework for resolving modern challenges.

    Significance of Gandhian thoughts in present times

    The philosophy of Ahimsa is relevant for addressing internal conflicts, protests, and global tensions. Eg- Russia-Ukraine war

    His emphasis on village self-rule promotes grassroots democracy and empowers citizens beyond electoral participation.

    Gandhi’s fight against untouchability underlines social justice. It is relevant in addressing caste discrimination and social exclusion. Eg- Mob Lynching of Dalits

    His emphasis on simple living and need-based consumption address ecological crises and is in line with Mission LiFE.

    Swadeshi supports local production and employment. It also resonates with Atmanirbhar Bharat and counters exploitative globalisation. Eg- weaponisation of supply chains by China

    Satyagraha empowers citizens to challenge injustice non-violently. It prevents descent into anarchy or authoritarianism.

    Nai Talim stressed holistic education integrating ethics and skills. It is in line with value-based and vocational education suggested in NEP,2020.

    His emphasis on self-discipline and moral courage bridges gap between rights and duties and promotes responsible citizenry and builds social capital

    Trusteeship principle

    Encourages corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical capitalism.

    Reduces wealth inequality (1% HOLDING 40% WEALTH)

    Gandhi’s concept of Sarvodaya (progress for all) and Antyodaya (upliftment of the last person) are relevant for forming social welfare policies. Eg- MGNREGA

    Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts represent a living philosophy. By prioritizing the planet over profit and humanity over hegemony, Gandhian principles provide a compass for navigating the complexities of the 21st century.

  • Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.

    A mantle plume is a narrow, localized column of abnormally hot, buoyant rock that rises through the Earth’s mantle from the core-mantle boundary (approx. 2,900 km deep).

    Characteristics of Mantle Plumes

    Mushroom-shaped structure – Broad head and narrow tail.

    Temperature– Plumes are 100-300°C hotter than the surrounding ambient mantle.

    Buoyant upwelling due to lower density.

    Stationary relative to moving plates – Forms volcanic chains.

    Basalts derived from plumes show distinct isotopic and chemical signatures compared to mid-ocean ridge basalts. Eg- high MgO concentrations

    Role of mantle plumes in plate tectonics

    Plumes provide evidence of vertical convection within mantle.

    Intraplate Volcanism (Hotspots) – Mantle plumes create volcanic activity away from plate boundaries. Eg- Hawaiian Island chain formed over a Pacific plate hotspot.

    Formation of Volcanic Island Chains – As tectonic plates move over stationary plumes, a chain of volcanoes forms. Eg- Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain

    Continental Flood Basalts – Plume head eruption can cause massive basalt outpourings. Eg- Deccan Traps in India (~66 million years ago).

    Plate Breakup and Rifting – Mantle plumes can weaken lithosphere, initiating continental rifting.

    East African Rift System.

    Role in breakup of Gondwana

    Thermal Uplift of Lithosphere – Hot plume material causes crustal doming before volcanic eruption.

    Recent research suggests that the intense thermal weakening caused by a plume can cause a tectonic plate to collapse under its own weight, potentially initiating a new subduction zone.

    Plume activity and plate motion together form an integrated framework for understanding Earth’s tectonic evolution.

    2025 – Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses. (15)

    The Theory of Plate Tectonics, developed in the late 1960s, is based on earlier ideas of continental drift (Alfred Wegener) and seafloor spreading (Harry Hess). It states that the lithosphere is divided into rigid plates that move over the semi-fluid asthenosphere and modify the shape, size, and distribution of continents and ocean basins

    Changes in the shape and size of continents and ocean basins due to tectonic movements

    Divergent Plate Movement – Increase in ocean basin size and breakup of continents.

    Plates move apart → magma rises and solidifies to form a new oceanic crust.

    Causes seafloor spreading and widening of oceans.Eg- Expansion of the Atlantic Ocean along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (2.5 cm per year.)

    Continental rifting leads to fragmentation of landmasses.

    East African Rift valley

    Formation of Linear Seas- Eg- Red Sea due to drifting of Arabian Plate away from the African Plate.

    Convergent Plate Movement – Shrinking of oceans and enlargement/upliftment of continents.

    Ocean-Continent Convergence

    Denser oceanic plate subducts, leading to

    formation of trenches and volcanic mountain chains.

    Reduction in ocean basin area

    Eg- Nazca Plate subducting under the South American Plate to form the Andes Mountains and the Peru-Chile Trench.

    The Pacific Ocean is currently shrinking due to subduction along the “Ring of Fire”.

    Continent-Continent Convergence – Collision causes fold mountain formation and crustal thickening. Eg- Himalayas formed after closure of the Tethys Sea.

    Transform Plate Movement – Change in Continental Configuration

    Lateral sliding of plates causes horizontal displacement of landforms. Eg- San Andreas Fault.

    Modifies coastlines and continental margins.

    It also leads to periodic assembly and break-up of supercontinents such as Pangaea.

    These tectonic processes not only remodel the Earth’s surface but also influence climate, ocean circulation, biodiversity, and natural resource distribution.

  • Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view.

    “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

    Major women movements in India

    Anti-Sati Movement led by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

    Satyashodhak Samaj led by Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule pioneered female education

    Anti-Dowry Campaigns (1980s)- Led by groups like Mahila Dakshata Samiti

    Women’s Indian Association first to demand women’s suffrage

    SEWA – Founded by Ela Bhatt, organized women in SHG and trade unions

    Mathura Rape Case Protest (1979-80)- led to first major amendment in Rape Laws

    Triple Talaq Movement led by the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA)

    Chipko Movement- Led by women like Gaura Devi

    Navdanya Movement (Vandana Shiva) – empowers women to preserve biodiversity and seeds

    #MeToo Movement – against sexual harassment at workplace

    However, they failed to address the issues of women of lower strata

    It failed to recognise the triple burden of discrimination (intersection of Caste, Class, and Gender) as it treated “Woman” as a monolithic category. Eg- Hatras rape case

    Intersection of gender and religious marginalization was weakly addressed. Eg- Muslim women’s socio-economic exclusion received less attention beyond advocacy of UCC and Triple Talaq

    Leadership and agenda dominated by elite women – Early focus on legal reforms like dowry and workplace equality over survival issues like hunger and wage security.

    Limited focus on informal and unpaid work – Eg- more focuses on “glass ceilings” in corporate offices, neglecting agricultural laborers. (Over 90% of Dalit women work in the unorganized sector.)

    Urban bias in issues and mobilization – Eg- Rural women’s access to drinking water, fuelwood, and sanitation remained peripheral.

    Inadequate engagement with tribal women’s concerns – Development-induced displacement received limited feminist mobilization.

    Neglect of women issues in conflict zones – Eg- Women in Kashmir and the Northeast did not become sustained focal points of mainstream movements.

    Dependence on NGO-ization and donor agendas – Project-driven advocacy replaced mass mobilization among poor women.

    Educational Exclusion- Elite feminism focuses on “STEM representation,” while lower-strata women struggle with basic literacy and school dropouts.

    Health Disparities- feminist debates revolve around “reproductive choice” (abortion rights), while marginalized women face lack of basic maternal healthcare.

    Language Barrier- Feminist discourse is largely in English, creating a “vocabulary of exclusion” for rural, non-English speaking women.

    Digital Divide- “Hashtag Activism” (#MeToo) failed to reach rural women due to digital illiteracy.

    Counter-Argument- Positive Impacts on the Lower Strata

    Grassroots Political Entry- Eg- women representation in PRIs stands at 46%

    SHGs- NABARD-led SHG movement has empowered millions of rural women through micro-credit and financial literacy. Eg- Kudumbshree in Kerala

    Legal empowerment-

    SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

    Right to temple entry after Sabrimala Verdict

    Triple Talaq ban

    Anti-Liquor Movements led by poor women to save household income and reduce domestic abuse. Eg- Arrack Movement in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh

    Eco-Feminism- Chipko Movement was essentially a struggle by rural women for their daily fuel and fodder resources.

    Labor Reforms- SEWA model has successfully unionized thousands of street vendors and ragpickers.

    Dalit Feminism- rise of autonomous groups like the National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW).

    Way Forward

    Adopting an “Intersectionality Lens” that acknowledges caste and class alongside gender in every policy.

    Caste-Gender Sensitivity Training for police and judiciary

    Mainstreaming Gender Budgeting

    De-NGO-ization – Revive grassroots feminist politics.

    Only by embracing a “Bahujan Feminism” can the movement fulfill Ambedkar’s vision of a truly progressive and equal society.

  • Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India.

    Blue Revolution (Neel Kranti Mission) is an initiative aimed at rapid and sustainable growth in the aquaculture and fisheries sector to increase production, enhance fishers’ income, and ensure nutritional security.

    Key Components of the Blue Revolution

    Scientific modernization. Eg- Biofloc, RAS.

    Infrastructure Modernization. Eg- fishing harbors, cold chains, and processing units.

    Species Diversification. Eg- focus on high-value species like Tilapia and Sea Bass.

    Sustainable Governance – “Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management”.

    Social Empowerment – Doubling Fishers income

    Problems in Pisciculture

    Weak centre-state coordination leading to policy fragmentation. Eg- inland fisheries are a State subject, while deep-sea activities fall under the Central Government.

    Inadequate institutional reach and limited last-mile delivery. Eg- exclusion of small fish farmers in eastern India from benefits of PMMSY

    Limited access to institutional credit and over dependence on informal finance leads to high input costs and working capital shortages. Eg- Low KCC coverage.

    Post-harvest losses – India loses 20-25% of fish produce due to poor storage and transport.

    Market intermediaries cause low price realisation for fish farmers.

    Small and fragmented holdings – Low economies of scale. Eg- Majority ponds are below 1 hectare.

    While small-scale fishers comprise 90% of the workforce, they contribute less than 10% of the marine catch

    Low Productivity – 4 to 5 kg/ day in India vs 250 kg/day in Norway

    Low skills – Limited adoption of scientific aquaculture.

    Absence of quality seed and high cost of formulated feed leads to low productivity and reduced profitability. Eg- Feed accounts for 60-70% of input cost.

    Low adoption of modern systems like Biofloc, RAS, cage culture

    Water pollution – Industrial effluents in rivers affect inland fisheries. Eg- Fish mortality in stretches of Yamuna and Godavari.

    Climate change – Erratic monsoons have affected breeding cycles of fisheries

    Climate-Driven Migration and Disease due to rising sea temperatures and water pollution. Eg- White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in shrimps.

    Over-exploitation of marine resources – 90% of the global marine fish stocks have either been fully exploited or overfished or depleted (FAO)

    Strategies for pisciculture development

    Government Initiatives

    PM Matsya Sampada Yojana – Integrated value chain development

    Fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure development fund – concessional finance for cold storage

    PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) to formalize the unorganized sector and supporting MSMEs through digital IDs

    2026 Budget earmarked funds for integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars

    Other strategies needed

    Brood Banks and Hatchery Modernisation to ensure quality seed supply. Eg- Jayanti rohu.

    Promoting Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to help small farmers gain “collective bargaining power” for bulk feed purchase and direct market access.

    Expansion of Culture Area – Bringing unused water bodies under aquaculture. Eg- wetland fisheries development.

    Affordable Institutional Credit – Universalisation of KCC for fishers and aquaculture farmers.

    Women’s Participation- Providing up to 60% subsidy for women-led aquaculture projects, particularly in ornamental fisheries and seaweed farming.

    Safety Nets- Accidental Insurance Scheme for fishers and the deployment of transponders on vessels for real-time safety tracking.

    Promotion of Modern Technologies for intensive and high-density farming. Eg- Biofloc and RAS units in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

    Scaling digital fish marketing for better price discovery. Eg- Platforms like Matsya Setu

    Integrated Fish Farming for income diversification. Eg- Fish + duck + paddy systems in Assam and West Bengal.

    GlobalGAP and BAP Certifications to tap into premium markets in Japan and the EU.

    Climate-resilient and Sustainable Aquaculture – Ecosystem-Based Management by adopting the FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

    These can enable India to unlock its vast inland and marine fisheries potential and strengthen its blue economy.