Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The fisheries sector supports the livelihoods of millions of fishers, fish farmers, workers, vendors and small businesses, but many stakeholders still face difficulties in accessing formal finance, insurance, organised markets and modern business support. To address these gaps, the Government of India introduced the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) as a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Approved on 8 February 2024, the scheme has an estimated outlay of ₹6,000 crore for four years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 and is being implemented across all States and Union Territories. It focuses on formalising the fisheries sector, improving access to institutional finance, promoting aquaculture insurance and supporting eligible enterprises through performance-based grants. Under aquaculture insurance, eligible farmers can receive an incentive of 40% of the insurance premium, subject to a maximum of ₹25,000 per hectare and ₹1 lakh per farmer for eligible standard aquaculture farms. Eligible enterprises and organisations can also receive performance grants of up to ₹2 crore, subject to the applicable conditions and investment limits.

The scheme is implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India. A key part of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) is the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), which provides a digital platform for registration and access to different scheme modules, including institutional credit, aquaculture insurance, performance-based incentives, cooperative support, training and other fisheries-related services. Eligible stakeholders such as fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, fisheries and aquaculture enterprises, FFPOs, SHGs and cooperatives can access benefits according to the eligibility conditions of the relevant component. The scheme also aims to create and maintain employment, strengthen value-chain efficiency and improve fish and fishery product safety, quality and traceability.

Readers looking for additional support in the fisheries and food-processing sector can also explore the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, which is the broader fisheries-sector scheme under which PM-MKSSY is implemented. For fish processing and related value-chain activities, readers can also explore the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana and the PMFME Scheme available on GovtSchemes.in.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana Components

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) focuses on key areas such as formalisation, access to finance, aquaculture insurance, value-chain improvement and quality and safety systems.

• Formalisation and Credit Access: NFDP provides work-based identities and facilitates access to institutional credit, financial literacy, training and documentation support. The scheme also supports existing fisheries cooperatives.
• Aquaculture Insurance: Eligible fish farmers can receive a one-time incentive for purchasing aquaculture insurance for one crop cycle, subject to the prescribed limits.
• Value-Chain Efficiency: Eligible fisheries and aquaculture enterprises, cooperatives and other organisations can receive performance-based grants for approved investments that improve value-chain efficiency.
• Safety and Quality Assurance: Eligible enterprises and organisations can receive support for improving fish and fishery product safety, quality, traceability, certification and related systems.
• Project Management: The scheme also includes arrangements for project management, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

Scheme Benefits

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana provides financial incentives and support to help fisheries stakeholders access formal finance, reduce aquaculture risks, improve businesses and create employment. The main benefits include:

• Eligible aquaculture farmers can get an insurance incentive of 40% of the premium, up to ₹25,000 per hectare and ₹1 lakh per farmer for standard farms up to 4 hectares.
• For intensive aquaculture systems such as cage culture, RAS, bio-floc and raceways, the incentive is 40% of the premium, up to ₹1 lakh per farmer, for units up to 1,800 cubic metres.
• SC, ST and women beneficiaries can get an additional 10% of the applicable general-category insurance incentive.
• Eligible microenterprises can get a performance grant of up to ₹35 lakh. For eligible SC, ST and women-owned microenterprises, the limit is up to ₹45 lakh.
• Eligible small enterprises can get a performance grant of up to ₹75 lakh. For eligible SC, ST and women-owned enterprises, the limit is up to ₹1 crore under the safety and quality component.
• Village-level organisations, SHG federations, FFPOs and cooperatives can get a performance grant of up to ₹2 crore, subject to the scheme conditions.
• Eligible borrowers can receive a one-time success fee of up to ₹5,000 after the first disbursement of an approved institutional loan.
• Existing fisheries cooperatives can receive ₹2 lakh per cooperative for business-plan preparation, mentoring and other approved requirements.
• Eligible enterprises can receive ₹15,000 per year for each woman job and ₹10,000 per year for each man job created and maintained, subject to the applicable grant limit.
• Fisheries stakeholders can register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) and access eligible services such as credit facilitation, aquaculture insurance and performance-based incentives.
• The scheme also supports better fish and fishery product safety, quality, traceability, technology adoption, waste management and overall value-chain efficiency.

The actual benefit depends on the applicant's category, the PM-MKSSY component and the applicable eligibility and investment conditions. Registration on NFDP does not by itself guarantee approval of a loan, insurance incentive or performance grant.

Financial Assistance Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) provides financial incentives and performance-based grants for different activities in the fisheries sector. The amount depends on the type of benefit, enterprise or beneficiary category.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) Aquaculture Insurance Incentive

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) provides a one-time incentive to encourage eligible aquaculture farmers to purchase insurance for one crop cycle. The incentive is linked to the insurance premium and is subject to farm-size and maximum-payment limits.

For intensive aquaculture systems, the maximum eligible unit size is 1,800 cubic metres. The insurance incentive is available for one crop or crop cycle under this component.

Performance Grant Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) provides performance-based grants to eligible fisheries and aquaculture enterprises for improving value-chain efficiency and adopting safety and quality systems. The grant limits vary according to the type of enterprise or organisation.

Eligible investments may include processing, storage, transportation, technology, energy-efficient systems, traceability, quality and safety systems and other approved value-chain improvements.

The scheme also provides employment-linked support for eligible jobs created and maintained, with additional focus on women's employment.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) depends on the type of benefit or service being applied for. The main eligibility requirements are:

• Fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors and others directly involved in the fisheries value chain can apply for eligible scheme services.
• Eligible fisheries and aquaculture micro and small enterprises can apply for performance-based grants.
• Proprietorship firms, partnership firms, companies registered in India, societies and LLPs involved in eligible fisheries activities can apply under the relevant components.
• Fisheries cooperatives, federations, SHGs, VLOs and FFPOs can apply for applicable benefits.
• Eligible fisheries and aquaculture startups can apply for support under the applicable components.
• Aquaculture farmers can apply for the insurance incentive if they purchase eligible insurance and meet the required conditions.
• For standard aquaculture insurance, the eligible farm size is up to 4 hectares of water spread area.
• For intensive systems such as cage culture, RAS, bio-floc and raceways, the eligible unit size is up to 1,800 cubic metres.
• SC, ST and women beneficiaries can receive the additional insurance incentive or enhanced grant support applicable to their category.
• Applicants must complete the required registration and verification process through the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) or an approved assisted registration channel.
• Applicants seeking performance grants must meet the applicable conditions related to investment, business activity, employment and other requirements of the concerned component.

Required Documents

The documents required under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana may vary depending on the applicant and the benefit being claimed. Applicants should keep the following documents and details ready, wherever applicable:

• Aadhaar or another valid identity document for registration and verification.
• Mobile number for registration, communication and OTP verification.
• Bank account details for receiving approved financial benefits.
• Proof of fisheries or aquaculture activity, where required.
• Farm, water-body or lease-related documents for eligible aquaculture applications, where applicable.
• Valid aquaculture insurance policy and premium details for claiming the insurance incentive.
• Enterprise registration and business-related documents for performance-grant applications.
• Project report, investment details and supporting expenditure documents, where required for enterprise grants.
• Relevant cooperative, SHG, FFPO or organisation registration documents, where applicable.
• SC/ST certificate or other category-related document, where applicable for enhanced benefits.

The exact document requirements depend on the PM-MKSSY component and applicant category. Applicants should check the requirements shown on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) before submitting the application.

Steps to Apply

Applying for benefits under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana starts with registration on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP). The process is designed to create a verified fisheries-sector profile first, after which eligible applicants can access the relevant PM-MKSSY services.

• Open the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) and select the registration option available for fisheries stakeholders. Eligible applicants can register themselves online or take assistance through a Common Service Centre (CSC).
• Enter the required personal or organisation details and information about your fisheries activity as shown on the NFDP registration form. Submit the details for verification through the prescribed process.
• After successful registration, the applicant receives a provisional certificate. This certificate can be used to proceed with the relevant Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) application on the NFDP portal.
• Log in to your NFDP account and select the service that matches your requirement, such as institutional credit, aquaculture insurance or an applicable performance-grant component.
• Provide the supporting information and documents required for the selected service. For insurance applications, enter the required aquaculture and insurance details. For enterprise grants, provide the applicable business, investment and other project information.
• Submit the application through the relevant NFDP module. The application is then processed and verified by the concerned implementing authority according to the requirements of the selected PM-MKSSY component.
• For eligible applications, the approved benefit is released according to the payment and disbursement procedure applicable to that component. Loan applications, insurance incentives and performance grants may have different approval and verification processes.
• If online registration is difficult, applicants can seek assistance through a nearby CSC or the concerned State/UT fisheries authorities for the applicable registration and application process.

The Department of Fisheries states that beneficiaries can register on NFDP through self-registration or assisted registration through CSCs. After registration, the provisional certificate enables the applicant to submit the relevant application on the portal.

PM-MKSSY vs PMMSY

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) are closely connected but have different scopes. PM-MKSSY is a Central Sector Sub-scheme under PMMSY, while PMMSY is the broader scheme for the development and management of the fisheries sector.

Relevant Links

• Official Website of Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) Portal
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana Details On The Portal
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) Portal
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana Operational Guidelines

Contact Information

For questions related to fisheries schemes, PM-MKSSY services and beneficiary support, applicants can contact the Department of Fisheries or the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). For a scheme-specific application issue, applicants should also contact the concerned State or Union Territory fisheries authority.

Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

• Phone: 011-23381994 / 011-23070370
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Room No. 220, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

For Fisheries-related assistance

• NFDB Toll-Free Number: 1800-425-1660
• For PM-MKSSY and fisheries-related queries, applicants can also use the official Department of Fisheries contact page.