- Why in news
- On 28 September 2026 the Fisheries Ministry published a feature on PM-MKSSY's aquaculture insurance incentive, with early uptake figures: 316 applications received and 127 disbursed.
- What it is
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) is a fisheries sub-scheme approved in February 2024. It works alongside PMMSY and aims to formalise the sector and support aquaculture insurance. Its Component 1-B gives farmers a one-time incentive to buy aquaculture insurance, paid by DBT through the National Fisheries Digital Platform.
- Delivery channel
- Benefits go to farmers directly by DBT through the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP).
- Incentive rate
- A one-time incentive of up to 40% of premium, for one crop cycle.
- Pond limits
- For ponds: ₹25,000 per hectare, capped at ₹1,00,000 for up to 4 hectares; farms under one hectare get pro-rata.
- Extra for SC, ST, women
- SC, ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% of the incentive payable to the General Category.
- Claim timelines
- Claims must be settled within 30 days for shrimp culture and 45 days for other aquaculture.
Don’t confuse with PMMSY vs PM-MKSSY: PMMSY is the broader fisheries scheme (2020) with a productivity target of 5 tonnes per hectare. PM-MKSSY, approved in 2024, is a sub-scheme with the aquaculture insurance incentive.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Insurance shields small farmers from crop losses due to disease, floods and cyclones, and prevents debt spirals.
- Premium support builds a lasting aquaculture insurance market and aids rural livelihoods and food security.
Problems
- Uptake is low so far: 127 of 316 applications approved, covering a small area.
- Trust in claim assessment and timely settlement is weak among farmers.
Way forward
- Use technology for verification and speed up claim handling.
- Bring in private insurers and increase State-level outreach.
Put in your answer
Fish production growth: India's fish production rose from 9.6 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 19.8 million tonnes in 2024-25.
Uptake so far: 127 applications approved, disbursing ₹40.03 lakh over 321.74 hectares.
- 2016Mains GS3 · Q10Need for crop insurance and salient features of PMFBY
- 2017Mains GS3 · Q15Significance of crop insurance for small and marginal farmers
- 2018Mains GS1 · Q15Blue revolution: problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India
- 2026Prelims Q38FAO's Four Betters for Blue Transformation: which combination is correct
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the aquaculture insurance incentive under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY):
Which one of the following is correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The aquaculture insurance incentive under PM-MKSSY is provided under Component 1-B of the sub-scheme.
True. Component 1-B covers incentivisation of aquaculture insurance.
2.The incentive is paid to farmers through DBT via the National Fisheries Digital Platform.
True. Delivery is by DBT through NFDP.
3.The incentive is available as a recurring annual subsidy on the premium for every crop cycle.
False. It is a one-time incentive for one crop cycle.
4.The incentive can be up to 40% of the insurance premium cost.
True. Up to 40% of premium.
5.For pond-based aquaculture, the maximum incentive is ₹1,00,000 for up to 4 hectares.
True. ₹25,000 per hectare, capped at ₹1,00,000 for up to 4 hectares.
6.Claims for shrimp culture are to be settled within 45 days, and for other aquaculture within 30 days.
False. 30 days for shrimp culture, 45 days for other aquaculture.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.