- Why in news
- On 7 September 2026, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying put out a note on how RAS and Biofloc technology is spreading under PMMSY, with 9,467 RAS and 4,573 Biofloc units approved.
- What it is
- Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) rear fish in tanks where water is treated and reused. Biofloc technology uses beneficial microbes to clean the water and feed the fish, so little water is exchanged. Both allow intensive fish farming in places where ponds are not feasible. India promotes them under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- RAS water recycling
- RAS recycles up to 90-95% of water, so farms can be set up near cities and export hubs.
- Units approved under PMMSY
- 9,467 RAS units and 4,573 Biofloc units have been approved.
- Investment in RAS and Biofloc
- Investment of ₹4,120 crore under PMMSY backs this technology.
- India's global rank
- India is the second-largest fish producer, with about 8% of global output, and the largest producer and exporter of shrimp.
- Production growth
- Fish production rose from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
- Cold-water use
- RAS and Biofloc are used for trout in cold-water clusters of J&K, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Don’t confuse with RAS vs Biofloc: RAS cleans and reuses water through filtration and treatment equipment. Biofloc relies on microbial flocs in the tank to treat water and serve as feed.
Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Intensive systems raise output per unit of water and land, supporting food security, rural jobs and seafood exports.
- Controlled environments improve quality, traceability and biosecurity, which export markets demand.
Problems
- High capital and running costs, including electricity, and a need for technical skills limit small farmers.
- Disease outbreaks or system failure can cause heavy losses in dense, closed systems.
Way forward
- Combine skill training and easy credit with renewable energy and digital monitoring to cut costs.
- Diversify into high-value species and strengthen biosecurity and extension services.
Put in your answer
Fish production growth: Fish production more than doubled from 95.79 lakh tonnes (2013-14) to 198 lakh tonnes (2024-25).
Seafood exports: Seafood exports rose from ₹30,213 crore in 2013-14 to ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26.
Inland and aquaculture growth: Inland fisheries and aquaculture output rose 147%, from 61.36 to 151.60 lakh tonnes.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting topic on blue economy and aquaculture technology; explainer with data and no new decision, so no question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.