PIB

PMMSY: bridging gaps in the fisheries sector

Context: In 2020, Government of India came up with Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to bring about ecologically healthy, economically viable, and socially inclusive development of the Fisheries sector of India.

Status of India’s Fisheries Sector

(Data from Economic Survey 2022-23)

The fishing sector in the country continues to be among the most important and fastest growing agriculture allied sector in this country.
The sector provides livelihood to more than 2.8 crores fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and several more along the fisheries value chain.
The annual average growth rate of the fisheries sector has been about 7 per cent since 2016-17 and has a share of about 6.7 per cent in total agriculture GVA.
About 17% of agricultural exports of our country are fish and fish products.
India is now among top three countries in fish and aquaculture production.
India has become the one of the biggest shrimp exporter in world.

About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, is implementing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure and marketing.

It aims to modernize and strengthen the value chain, enhance traceability and establish a robust fisheries management framework while simultaneously ensuring the socio-economic welfare of fishers and fish farmers.
The scheme focuses on the doubling of fishers’ income through a variety of interventions like by generating meaningful employment.
It also focusses on enhancing the contribution of the fisheries sector to Agricultural GVA and exports.
Build a robust fisheries management and regulatory framework for better management of the sector.

Benefits of PMMSY

The scheme provides financial assistance to develop fishing infrastructure like fishing harbors, fish landing centers, fish markets, fish feed plants, fish seed farms, and fish processing units.
Assistance for marketing and export of fish products: It provides assistance for the development of cold chains, fish processing units, and packaging facilities to promote the export of fish products. It will enhance India's competitiveness in the global seafood market. E.g., Aquapreneurs in Nellore have become successful exporters with the help of biofloc cultivated shrimps.
Employment Generation: It aims to generate employment opportunities, particularly in rural and coastal areas. It provides livelihoods to fishermen and fisherwomen, as well as opportunities in related sectors such as processing, marketing, and transportation.
It promotes the use of modern technology and equipment in fishing and aquaculture. This includes providing support for the adoption of advanced fishing vessels, fish-finding technology, and fish processing machinery.
Diversification in Fisheries by promoting activities such as ornamental fish farming, seaweed cultivation, and mariculture, expanding the scope of the sector.
Empowerment of women: The scheme emphasizes the participation of women in the fisheries sector, providing them with training and financial support for their active involvement in various activities. E.g., Women entrepreneurs from Kashmir Valley are efficiently rearing cold water rainbow trout using a recirculatory aquaculture system.

PMMSY has indeed opened a world of opportunities, and its successful implementation will play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of India's fisheries and aquaculture industry for generations to come.

Malaviya Mission: Teacher Training Programme

Context: The Ministry for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has launched the Malaviya Mission for the training of teachers in higher educational institutes.

About Malaviya Mission

It is a teacher training programme that aims to provide tailored training programmes for teachers. This programme will work for the capacity building of faculty members in higher educational institutions.
Organised by University Grants Commission, in association with the Ministry of Education.
Aims to improve the quality of teachers’ training, build leadership skills in teachers and help realise the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP).
The capacity building under this Mission will be mapped to the credit framework to ensure career progression pathways for educators.
There are the theme-wise training sessions.

The 8 themes include

Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education,
Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS),
Academic Leadership, Governance and Management,
Higher Education and Society,
Research and Development,
Skill Development,
Student Diversity and Inclusive Education and
Information and Communication Technology.

Human Resource Development Centres to be revamped and known as Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers Training Centres.
Monitoring and quality assurance of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme would be undertaken by the UGC Committee after conducting one round of training programme.

Objectives of the Scheme:

Salient objectives of the scheme in alignment with NEP 2020 are:

Improving the quality of Education at all levels by infusing quality and excellence in our teachers and teaching.
To develop innovative teaching method and high-level institutional facilities in all the constituent areas of higher education.
To impart pedagogy-related training and improve faculties’ soft and practical skills.
To ensure holistic development of the teachers and learners with inculcation of ethics and human values as enshrined in Indian culture.
To develop multidisciplinary and critical thinking ability.
To familiarize the faculty with the Indian Knowledge Systems.
To build respect for the eco-balance and biodiversity existing in the nature. University Grants Commission 7
To undertake quality research in line with the local, national, and global needs.
To make it known that higher education is for social upliftment and inclusiveness.
To develop the know-how to prepare transformative pedagogy with ICT intervention.
To build life skills and global citizenship values.
To ensure the role of faculty as active participants in institution building.
Improve the quality of teaching and empower Faculty members through training, induction, refresher and short term programs and ensure their continuous professional development.

Significance of Malaviya Mission

Improve the quality of education at all levels by infusing quality and excellence in teachers and teaching methods.
Ensure continuous professional development and help in building capacities of 15 lakh teachers of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through 111 Malaviya Mission centres across India in a time-bound manner.
Theme-wise training sessions will help enthuse “Samagrata” in the participants.

Civil Services Day

About civil services day

It is celebrated on 21^st April every year.
It was the day when Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel addressed the probationers of administrative services officers in 1947.
It is celebrated as an occasion for civil servants to radiate themselves to the causes of citizens and redrew their commitments to public services and excellence in work.
On this day Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration is awarded to civil servants.

This year the 16 awards will be given in the following five priority programmes

i) Promoting “Jan Bhagidari” or People’s Participation in Poshan Abhiyan,

ii) Promoting excellence in sports and wellness through the Khelo India scheme,

iii) Digital payments and Good Governance in PM SVANidhi Yojana,

iv) Holistic Development through the One District One Product scheme,

v) Seamless, End-to-End Delivery of Services without Human Intervention.

Major Economies Forum

Context: The leader’s meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change, was convened virtually by the United States of America on 20^th April 2023.

About the Major Economies Forum

The group represented 20 major economies of the world including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, European Commission, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
The aim of the forum is to deal with climate change
The leaders informed the forum about the steps being taken by different countries toward climate action that varied across sectors.
The forum will foster cooperation among member countries in dealing with climate change.

Bamboo based bio-refineries

Context: National Thermal Power Corporation, the largest power-generating utility in India, and Chempolis India, a leading Finnish bio-refining technology provider, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the feasibility of setting up a Bamboo-based Bio-Refinery in Bongaigaon, Assam.

Major Highlights

Chempolis will work with NTPC to conduct the feasibility study for the project which shall utilize bamboo for the production of 2G Ethanol, Bio-Coal for thermal power plant & other value-added products.
The proposed Bio-Refinery is planned as an integration project with NTPC Bongaigaon Power Plant, where all utility requirements such as steam, power, etc., shall be supplied from the power plant and the Bio-Coal produced by the Bio-Refinery shall partly replace coal in the power plant, effectively converting 5% of the generation of the power plant to green.
Significance: The project will support NTPC’s decarbonization efforts, create job opportunities and build a sustainable model by promoting the use of locally available resources.

What is a Bio-Refinery?

Biorefineries are processing facilities that convert biomass to energy and other value-added products such as biofuels, biochemicals, bioenergy/biopower, and other biomaterials.

National Policy on Biofuels

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas published the “National Policy on Biofuels" in 2018, which was further amended in June 2022.
The policy's objective is to reduce the import of petroleum products by fostering domestic biofuel production.

Salient Features of the National Policy on Biofuels

Oil Companies shall sell Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) with a percentage of ethanol up to 20% throughout the country from 01st April 2023.
A target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol is proposed by Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26.
An indicative target of 5% blending of biodiesel in diesel /direct sale of biodiesel is proposed by 2030.
The Policy categorises biofuels as:
- "Basic Biofuels" viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel
- "Advanced Biofuels" - Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels
- “Third Generation’’ (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable the extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
It expands the scope of raw materials for ethanol production by allowing the use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.
It allows the use of surplus food grains for the production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of the National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries of Rs. 5000 crores in 6 years in addition to additional tax incentives, and a higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels.
It encourages the setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, and short gestation crops.