Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying inaugurated projects under PMMSY in Aizawl, Mizoram.

• Aim – To achieve Blue Revolution through sustainable development of fisheries, enhance production, modernize infrastructure, strengthen value chains, and improve farmers’ welfare.
• Type – Central sector scheme.
• Launched in – 2020.
• Duration – 5 years (2020-2025).
• Sub scheme – Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY) is under the PMMSY.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D).
• Implementing Agencies – State/UT Fisheries Departments along with National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
• It is implemented in all the States and Union Territories.
• Eligibility – Fishers, fish farmers, cooperatives, FFPOs, SHGs, entrepreneurs, private partners.
• Coverage – Pan‑India, including inland, marine, and aquaculture sectors.

Objectives

• Deep‑Sea Fishing Support – Financial aid for acquiring and upgrading vessels to meet export standards.
• Governance & Coordination – Whole of Government approach with Joint Working Group (JWG) between Ministry of Cooperation and Department of Fisheries.
• Cooperatives & FFPOs – Strengthening fishery cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs).
• Livelihood & Welfare – Provision of boats, nets, communication devices, sea‑safety kits, and insurance.
• Training, skill development, and promotion of alternative livelihoods (seaweed, bivalve culture).

Key Features

• Infrastructure – Harbours, landing centres, cold storage, processing units.
• Technology Adoption – Modern aquaculture, disease management, digital platforms.
• Livelihood Support – Insurance, welfare schemes, Kisan Credit Card for fisheries (KCC). 
• Export Promotion – Branding, certification, and global market linkages.
• Income & Employment – Double fishermen incomes and generate jobs.
• Infrastructure & Value Chain – Development of harbours, landing centres, cold‑chain, and processing units.
• Support for marketing facilities and export promotion through branding and certification.
• Economic Contribution – Boost share in Agricultural GVA and exports.
• Social Security – Ensure welfare and safety of fishers.

References

1. PIB | PMMSY
2. My Scheme.gov.in | PMMSY

National One Health Mission

Why in News?

Recently, The 5^th Scientific Steering Committee Meeting of the National One Health Mission at New Delhi.

• It is a cross-ministerial initiative that unifies human, animal, and environmental surveillance to strengthen pandemic preparedness and deliver integrated disease detection, response, and control.
• Launched in – 2024.

• Objectives
  • Strengthen preparedness against zoonotic and climate‑sensitive health threats.
  • Enhance inter‑sectoral coordination across ministries and departments.
  • Develop integrated surveillance, laboratory networks, AI‑enabled pathogen detection, and medical countermeasures.

Need for One Health

• Risk Factors – India’s diverse wildlife, large livestock population, and high human density increase chances of inter‑compartmental disease spread.
• Recent Outbreaks – COVID‑19, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Avian Influenza underscore vulnerabilities at the human‑animal‑environment interface.

Features

• Targeted R&D – Development of key vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and platforms.
• Data Integration – Creation of databases and cross‑sectoral data sharing mechanisms.
• Governance Mechanisms – Strengthening governance at local, national, and international levels.
• Regulatory Streamlining – Simplifying regulatory and approval processes in the One Health domain.
• Cross-Sectoral Integration (Human-Animal-Environment) – It aims to create an agile response system to prevent inter-compartmental disease spread like Zoonoses.
• BSL‑3/4 Labs Network – National network for high‑risk pathogen research and outbreak response.
• Genomics & Metagenomics Surveillance – AI tools, NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) pipelines for novel pathogen discovery.
• IRDLs (Infectious Disease Research & Diagnostic Labs) – Regional referral labs for bacteriology, mycology, parasitology; biorepositories and accredited diagnostics centres.
• Multi-Layered Surveillance Systems – Wastewater Surveillance, Slaughterhouse and Market Surveillance and Syndromic Surveillance to spot unusual disease clusters early.

References

1. PIB Delhi | One Health Mission
2. ICMR | One Health Mission

Saraswathi Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News?

The sanctuary recently gained prominence following the development of Nakshatra Vatika (Constellation Garden) in its Pehowa region.

• It is Located in Kaithal district of Haryana.
• It is also known as Seonsar Forest.
• Geography - It is associated with the mythical Saraswati River.
• It holds the distinction of being the 3^rd-largest forest in the state, right after Kalesar National Park and Morni Hills.
• It lies in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas.
• Establishment- Declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1982.
• It is officially designated as a Conservation Reserve on October 11, 2007.
• Archaeological Finds - Excavations within the sanctuary have unburied ancient rectangular bricks belonging to the Kushan and Gupta periods, proving human habitation dating back over 1,500 years.
• It also houses a 400-year-old Mughal-era water well built using small lakhauri bricks.
• Flora- Dominated by tropical dry deciduous forests.
• Common tree species include sal, shisham, arjun, and khejri.
• It also features scrub forest and grasslands.
• Fauna- Mammals - Leopards, jackals, wild boars, rhesus macaques, nilgai, barking deer.
• Birds - Peafowl, hornbills, and other native and migratory birds.
• Reptiles- Various snakes and lizards.
• Threats - Human encroachment, illegal logging, poaching, and habitat fragmentation.
• Efforts are ongoing for conservation and anti-poaching activities by forest department.

Reference

Times of India | Saraswathi Wildlife Sanctuary

Abraham Accords

Why in News?

US President Donald Trump recently called on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Jordan to sign the Abraham Accords.

• It is a series of joint diplomatic statements normalization agreements signed in late 2020 to establish full diplomatic, commercial, and security relations between Israel and Arab nations.
• The Broker - The agreements were mediated and brokered by the United States.
• Signatory Nations-
  • Israel
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE) — First Gulf state to sign.
  • Bahrain
  • Morocco
  • Sudan
  • Kosovo
• The Name- The accords are named after the biblical patriarch Abraham.  
• He is recognized as a central prophet and shared ancestor in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, symbolizing interfaith reconciliation and shared heritage.
• Core Objective - To foster regional peace, economic integration, and direct technological collaboration, while bypassing the historical pan-Arab consensus that conditioned normalization on resolving the Palestinian statehood issue.
• These ties were also driven by a common apprehension regarding Iran’s regional power and nuclear initiatives, as well as to strengthen relations with the United States.
• Strategic Significance (West Asia)
  • Breaking the Arab Consensus - For decades, the Arab Peace Initiative maintained that normalization with Israel could only happen after a resolution to the Palestinian conflict.
  • The Accords bypass this condition, prioritizing bilateral state interests.
  • Containment of Iran - The Accords reflect a shared strategic interest between Sunni Arab Gulf states and Israel in containing the geopolitical threat of Iran.
  • New Regional Alignments- By facilitating security and economic integration, the Accords pave the way for a U.S.-backed Israel-Gulf axis.
• Recent Discussion – U.S. President has discussed with countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (which is already a member), Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain (also already a member) to join.
• Other Arab countries can potentially sign the agreement, although they may deepen their own defence cooperation after the recent Israeli strikes, rather than relying on external partners

Reference

The Hindu | Abraham Accords