PM-MKSSY Targets 1.70 Lakh Jobs as Government Strengthens India’s Fisheries Value Chain

The Centre is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) to formalise India’s fisheries sector and improve access to finance, insurance and markets.

The ₹6,000 crore Central Sector sub-scheme operates under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). It covers four years from FY2023-24 to FY2026-27.

The scheme aims to generate around 1.70 lakh jobs across the country.

Digital Platform Brings Fish Workers Into Formal Economy

The government launched the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) on September 11, 2024, under PM-MKSSY.

The platform supports the gradual formalisation of the largely unorganised fisheries sector. It also creates work-based digital identities for fishers and other fisheries workers.

These digital identities can improve access to government services, finance and other support programmes.

PM-MKSSY also seeks to expand institutional credit for fishers, fish farmers and small businesses. Better access to working capital can help them reduce costs and expand operations.

Aquaculture Farmers Get Insurance Support

PM-MKSSY provides a one-time incentive for farmers who purchase aquaculture insurance.

The government supports 40% of the insurance premium, subject to specified limits.

For conventional aquaculture, the incentive can reach ₹25,000 per hectare. The maximum support is ₹1 lakh per farmer for up to four hectares of water spread area.

The scheme also covers intensive aquaculture systems. These include cage culture, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), bio-floc systems and raceways.

For such systems, farmers can receive 40% of the premium, with support capped at ₹1 lakh per farmer for 1,800 cubic metres.

Women and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries receive an additional 10% incentive over the general category.

Performance Grants Support Fisheries Businesses

The scheme also supports microenterprises that improve fisheries value chains and develop safe fish supply networks.

General-category microenterprises can receive a performance grant of 25% of their investment or ₹35 lakh, whichever is lower.

SC, ST and women-owned microenterprises can receive 35% of investment or ₹45 lakh, whichever is lower.

Village-level organisations, Self-Help Group federations, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and cooperatives can receive larger grants.

Their support can reach 35% of the total investment or ₹2 crore, whichever is lower.

Scheme Offers Incentives for Job Creation

PM-MKSSY links part of its financial support to employment generation.

Eligible enterprises can receive ₹10,000 per year for each male job created and maintained.

The corresponding incentive for women employees is ₹15,000 per year.

Job-related incentives cannot exceed 50% of the total eligible performance grant.

The government expects the wider scheme to create about 1.70 lakh jobs.

Climate-Resilient Fisheries Get Priority

PM-MKSSY also promotes environmentally sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

The programme encourages businesses to improve energy and water efficiency. It also supports renewable energy and climate-smart technologies.

Projects can adopt better waste management, pollution control and low-carbon production methods.

The scheme also promotes disease management, hygiene, certification, traceability and improved quality standards.

These measures can help fisheries businesses meet both domestic and international requirements.

Focus on Seafood Exports

The government also wants PM-MKSSY to strengthen India’s seafood export competitiveness.

The scheme supports sustainable aquaculture, value addition and modern post-harvest infrastructure.

It also encourages investment in cold chains, processing and packaging.

Better certification, traceability and disease surveillance can help Indian seafood producers meet international food safety standards.

The programme also supports micro and small enterprises seeking better technology and stronger market connections.

Fisheries Cooperatives to Receive Greater Support

Strengthening fisheries cooperatives forms another key part of the programme.

PM-MKSSY aims to improve their institutional capacity and access to finance.

It also supports business planning and better market access.

This could help smaller fishers and producers gain greater bargaining power and participate more effectively in organised markets.

Scheme Covers All States and Union Territories

PM-MKSSY is a demand-driven national programme available across all States and Union Territories.

The scheme does not set district-specific or state-specific employment targets.

The government clarified that this also applies to Andhra Pradesh, including Nellore district.

Instead, the programme follows a national target of generating 1.70 lakh jobs while strengthening the fisheries value chain.

Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, provided the information in a Rajya Sabha reply on August 12, 2026.

Through digital formalisation, insurance support, credit access and performance-linked grants, PM-MKSSY seeks to modernise India’s fisheries economy. Its wider objective is to make the sector more productive, sustainable and globally competitive.

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Source: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India; Rajya Sabha reply, August 12, 2026.

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