In March 2025, the Department of Fisheries (DoF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (MoFAH&D) hosted the Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 held in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- The conclave featured technical sessions and discussions on the evolving fisheries ecosystem in India.
- The event aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, technological advancements and sustainability in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
- The event witnessed the launch of two key initiatives: Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge 2.0 and National Fisheries Development Platform (NFDP) mobile application (app).
Key People: Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, MoFAH&D & the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) inaugurated the conclave; along with Union Minister of State (MoS) Prof. S.P. Singh Bhagel, MoFAH&D and MoPR; and Professor Ramesh Chand, Member of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
About Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge 2.0:
i.It was launched as part of the ‘Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0’, to support emerging enterprises/startups in manufacturing and related fields in the fisheries sector.
ii.Under this program, 10 winning startups will receive Rs 1 crore in funding.
iii.Each winning startup will receive structured incubation support from Kochi (Kerala)-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT); Hyderabad (Telangana)-based National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) or related affiliated institutions under DoF.
About NFDP Mobile App:
i.This mobile application is developed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
Note: In February 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the PM-MKSSY, a Central Sector sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for a period of four years.
ii.It is designed to simplify access to various Government of India (GoI)-led schemes, specifically benefitting startups and stakeholders in the fisheries sector.
- It offers a user-friendly interface for navigating multiple modules and avail the benefits of the schemes.
iii.The app provides a platform which enables the fishers, fish farmers, vendors, and processors to create their digital work-identities, providing their smooth integration into formal financial and welfare systems.
iv.The app provides Rs 100 for self-registration and Rs 76 for registrations through Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) of Common Service Centres (CSCs).
Points to Note:
- India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of over 3 crore people and generating employment across multiple segments of the value chain.
- Since 2015, the government has allocated Rs.38,572 crore to the sector through initiatives such as the Blue Revolution Scheme, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), and the PMMSY.
- In the Union budget 2025-26, the government has allocated a record-high budget of Rs.2,703.67 crore for the fisheries sector .
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D):
Union Minister- Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh (Constituency- Munger, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS) – Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel (Constituency- Agra, Uttar Pradesh, UP); George Kurian (Rajya Sabha- Madhya Pradesh, MP)
