1 . PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana)
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Fisheries | Blue Economy | Agriculture & Allied Activities | Government Schemes
- PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana) was approved on 8 February 2024 as a Central Sector Sub-Scheme under PMMSY, for FY 2023–24 to FY 2026–27, with an estimated outlay of ₹6,000 crore.
- The scheme seeks to address structural constraints in fisheries, particularly informality, inadequate crop-risk mitigation, weak access to institutional finance, and gaps in safety and quality of fishery products.
- Under Component 1-B, PM-MKSSY incentivises adoption of aquaculture insurance, with the broader objective of creating a viable market for aquaculture insurance products and encouraging insurers to develop suitable products.
- The aquaculture insurance component is particularly relevant because India’s rapidly expanding aquaculture sector is exposed to disease, summer kill, pollution, earthquakes, cyclones, floods and other natural calamities, which can result in complete crop loss.
- India’s fish production reached 8 million tonnes in 2024–25, while aquaculture contributes around 74% of total fish production, making crop-risk management increasingly important as production becomes more intensive.
- Under PM-MKSSY, the farmer receives a one-time incentive for one crop cycle against purchase of an aquaculture insurance policy; the incentive is routed through the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) and delivered through DBT.
- The incentive is 40% of the insurance premium, subject to ₹25,000 per hectare of water-spread area, with a maximum of ₹1 lakh per farmer for up to 4 hectares.
- For intensive systems such as cage culture, RAS, biofloc and raceways, the incentive remains 40% of the premium, with a maximum of ₹1 lakh and an eligible unit size of up to 1,800 m³.
- SC, ST and women beneficiaries receive an additional incentive of 10% of the incentive payable to the General Category.
- The scheme’s insurance framework distinguishes between Basic Insurance, covering yield losses from specified non-preventable perils such as summer kill, pollution, cyclones, floods and natural calamities, and Comprehensive Insurance, which additionally covers specified disease-related risks.
- The NFDP, launched under PM-MKSSY on 11 September 2024, is intended to provide a digital ecosystem for fisheries and aquaculture, including work-based digital identities, institutional credit, aquaculture insurance, cooperatives, traceability and training/capacity building.
2. Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)
Syllabus Mapping: GS-II: Social Justice | Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections | Scheduled Castes | Inclusive Development
- PM-AJAY is a 100% centrally funded scheme, launched in FY 2021–22 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for the socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Castes.
- PM-AJAY is a merger of three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes: Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
- The scheme has three broad objectives: reducing poverty through employment and livelihood opportunities; improving socio-economic indicators through infrastructure and services; and increasing literacy/enrolment through educational and residential facilities.
- Under the Adarsh Gram component, SC-dominated villages are developed into model villages by filling gaps in basic infrastructure and essential services.
- As of September 2026, the Adarsh Gram component has covered 47,243 villages, with 46,944 development works completed, 27,032 Village Development Plans (VDPs) prepared and 18,093 villages declared Adarsh Grams.
- For the Grants-in-Aid component, priority is given to families/persons with annual income of not more than ₹2.50 lakh; SC members of SC-majority groups are also eligible.
- Under Infrastructure Development, villages with 40% or more SC population and total population of at least 500 are eligible for grants.
- Grants-in-Aid supports livelihood projects, skill development, related infrastructure, infrastructure development in SC-dominated villages and residential educational facilities.
- More than ₹1,730 crore was released directly to States under Grants-in-Aid during FY 2021–22 to FY 2025–26, supporting more than 5 lakh individual and group beneficiaries.
- The Hostel component supports construction and repair of student hostels to improve access to quality education, particularly for SC students from rural and remote areas; 785 hostels had been completed by September 2026.
- For FY 2026–27, ₹61.46 crore in central assistance has been allocated for two hostel projects, one for girls and one for boys, providing accommodation for 264 students.
- Component-wise allocation includes up to 50% for gap-filling activities in selected Adarsh Gram villages, up to 5% for TSG/PIUs, up to 2% for hostel construction and repair, with the remaining funds used for Grants-in-Aid projects.
3. Agnibaan Reusable Launch Vehicle
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Space Technology | Reusable Launch Vehicles | Rocket Propulsion | Private Space Sector | R&D and Innovation | Indigenous Technology
- Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST) has signed an agreement with Agnikul Cosmos for ₹200 crore RDI support for development of the Agnibaan Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
- The project aims to take the technology from TRL-4 and above towards TRL-8, indicating progression from validated technology towards a much higher level of technological maturity and demonstration.
- The project focuses on full-system reusability, moving beyond the conventional approach of recovering only the first stage of a launch vehicle.
- The proposed reusable architecture is intended to enable high-frequency and repeatable launches, while reducing launch/manufacturing costs and space debris.
- The project is supported through the RDI Fund, with the financial assistance structured through Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCDs).
- Agnibaan RLV combines a lightweight reusable upper stage, precise orbital insertion capability and semi-cryogenic liquid propulsion designed for deep throttling and restart capability.
- The proposed architecture includes descent propulsion and controlled descent/recovery technologies, requiring integration of propulsion, ascent, orbital insertion, guidance and recovery systems.
- Agnikul has previously developed and tested Agnibaan, its indigenous orbital-class launch vehicle, and Agnilet, a single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine developed and manufactured in-house.
- TDB had earlier supported Agnikul in development and commercialisation of a modular configurable launch vehicle for small-satellite missions.
- The new RDI-supported programme extends this technology pathway from launch-vehicle development towards reusability, repeatability and operational efficiency.
- TRL (Technology Readiness Level) is a scale used to indicate the maturity of a technology; movement towards TRL-8 represents progression towards a system that has been demonstrated in an operationally relevant/near-operational environment.
4. FCV (Flue-Cured Virginia) Tobacco
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Agriculture | Commercial Crops | Agricultural Marketing | Export Agriculture | Government Regulation
- The Government has approved a one-time, interest-free loan of ₹50,000 per barn for FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh under the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme.
- The intervention is aimed at providing timely liquidity to growers amid changing global demand, geopolitical developments and evolving international trade conditions affecting tobacco procurement and marketing.
- Auctions for the 2025–26 crop season in Andhra Pradesh began on 25 March 2026, with around 100 million kg of FCV tobacco auctioned so far.
- FCV tobacco is predominantly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
- The proposed assistance covers approximately 44,000 growers, involving a financial intervention of around ₹220 crore.
- The assistance is proposed to be transferred directly to farmers through DBT, providing immediate working capital support.
- The assistance is intended to help growers meet household requirements, repay institutional loans, purchase inputs for the ensuing crop season and reduce dependence on private borrowing.
- The Government is simultaneously undertaking measures to facilitate procurement, enhance market participation and promote exports, while engaging exporters, buyers, growers and other stakeholders to strengthen the FCV tobacco sector.
- FCV (Flue-Cured Virginia) is a tobacco type whose leaves are cured in specially designed barns using heated air circulated through flues, without direct exposure of the leaves to smoke.
- Flue-curing is therefore different from curing methods in which tobacco leaves are directly exposed to smoke; controlled temperature and ventilation help produce the characteristic colour and quality associated with FCV tobacco.
- FCV tobacco is an important commercial/export-oriented crop, making growers particularly sensitive to changes in international demand, prices, trade conditions and procurement arrangements.
5. Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP)
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Infrastructure | Maritime Security | Shipping | Insurance | Energy Security | Blue Economy | Economic Security
- Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) was approved on 18 April 2026 and formally launched on 12 May 2026 as India’s first domestic maritime insurance pool, with insurance capacity of ₹13,906.50 crore (USD 1.5 billion).
- The Pool has sovereign backing of ₹12,980 crore (USD 1.4 billion) and aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign maritime insurers, particularly for high-value and war-risk coverage.
- BMIP covers Hull & Machinery, Cargo, Protection & Indemnity (P&I), and War risks for eligible maritime activities.
- Eligible vessels include those that are Indian-flagged, owned/managed/controlled by Indian entities, or cargo vessels destined to or originating from India.
- The Pool has a 10-year duration, extendable up to 15 years, providing a longer-term domestic framework for maritime insurance.
- Policies are issued by domestic insurers that are members of the Pool; the risks are collectively reinsured among Pool members according to their committed capacity.
- General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) acts as the Pool Administrator, while a Governing Body oversees the Pool and an Underwriting Committee ensures consistent risk assessment.
- Claims up to USD 100 million are met through accumulated reserves and reinsurance recoveries; for larger claims, the sovereign guarantee is activated after exhaustion of Pool reserves.
- BMIP was created against the backdrop of India’s heavy dependence on maritime trade, with 95% of trade value and 70% of trade volume moving through maritime routes according to the PIB material.
- Geopolitical disruptions, particularly around the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, have increased maritime insurance risks and premiums, highlighting the importance of domestic insurance capacity for India’s trade and energy security.
