Andaman fishers, this is your last call. The Department of Fisheries, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, is accepting applications for subsidised safety and navigational equipment for fishing boats — and the window closes tomorrow, 30 October 2026. If you fish from the islands and your boat still lacks proper life-saving gear, a working GPS or a VHF radio, this scheme can cut your cost by half — or by three-quarters if you are a Scheduled Tribe fisher.
Read this carefully: the headline figure is up to 75%. That top slab is for Scheduled Tribe fishers and tribal cooperative societies. General-category applicants get 50% of the unit cost. Both slabs are real, both are generous — but do not walk into the fisheries office expecting 75% unless you fall in the ST category. This post gives you the exact split, who qualifies, what equipment is covered, and where to file before the deadline.
At a glance: the scheme in one table
| Detail | What is confirmed |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Assistance for Purchase of Life Saving Appliances / Fire Fighting Appliances / Navigational Equipment (GPS, VHF, DAT etc.) |
| Run by | Department of Fisheries, Andaman and Nicobar Administration |
| Plan | UT Plan scheme, financial year 2026–27 |
| Subsidy — general | 50% of the unit cost |
| Subsidy — ST fishers & tribal cooperatives | 75% of the unit cost |
| Last date to apply | 30 October 2026 — submit to your nearest Fisheries Zonal Office or Fisheries Sub-Station |
| Where to get forms | Directorate of Fisheries, Zonal Fisheries Offices, nearest Fisheries Sub-Stations; details on andamannicobar.gov.in |
Who gets 50% and who gets 75%?
The subsidy is a share of the unit cost of the equipment — not a fixed cash amount. The sources report no per-item price cap, so the exact rupee benefit depends on the approved unit cost of the item you buy. What is confirmed is the split:
| Applicant category | Subsidy on unit cost |
|---|---|
| General fishermen, unemployed youth, local entrepreneurs, fisheries cooperative societies | 50% |
| Scheduled Tribe fishers and tribal cooperative societies | 75% |
In plain terms: on an item with an approved unit cost of ₹20,000, a general applicant would get ₹10,000 in assistance and pay ₹10,000; an ST applicant would get ₹15,000 and pay ₹5,000. Those are illustrative workings from the confirmed percentages — your actual assistance follows the unit cost approved for the item in the scheme guidelines, so confirm the figure for your item at the fisheries office before you buy.
What equipment is covered?
The scheme covers essential safety and navigational equipment for fishing boats, in three groups:
- Life-saving appliances — the gear that keeps a crew alive if something goes wrong at sea, such as life jackets and related safety equipment.
- Fire-fighting appliances — equipment to tackle a fire on board before it becomes a disaster.
- Navigational and communication equipment — including GPS devices for position-finding, VHF sets for ship-to-shore communication, and Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) that can raise the alarm when a boat is in trouble.
Why this combination matters: most fishing accidents at sea are not about the catch — they are about a boat that cannot call for help, cannot be located, or has no working safety gear when weather turns. A GPS tells rescuers where you are. A VHF radio lets you call them. A DAT sends a distress alert even when you cannot speak. Life jackets and fire equipment buy the minutes that make rescue possible. This scheme subsidises exactly that kit — it is a safety investment, not a fishing-gear subsidy.
Who is eligible?
All of the following conditions apply, as reported from the department’s invitation:
- You must be a bonafide fisherman or a member of a tribal community residing in the municipal and tribal fishing areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- You must possess a registered fishing craft — non-motorised, motorised or mechanised boats are all covered.
- You must hold a valid fishing licence for two consecutive years, including the current year.
The licence condition is the one most likely to trip applicants up. If your licence has lapsed, or you have held one for only the current year, check with your Zonal Office immediately whether you can still qualify — do not assume, and do not wait until 30 October to find out.
How to apply — step by step
- Go to your nearest office today. Application forms and detailed guidelines are available at the Directorate of Fisheries, Zonal Fisheries Offices and the nearest Fisheries Sub-Stations. With only a day left, collect the form in person rather than waiting on a website.
- Check the item list and unit costs. Confirm which items are eligible under the scheme and the approved unit cost for each, so you know your subsidy before you commit to a purchase.
- Fill the form completely and attach the required documents. The department requires completed applications along with the required documents — carry your craft registration and fishing licence papers so the office can verify the two-year licence condition on the spot.
- Submit to the nearest Fisheries Zonal Office or Fisheries Sub-Station on or before 30 October 2026. That is the hard cut-off reported by both local news sources. A form submitted on 31 October is a form submitted too late.
- Keep a copy and a receipt. Note the date of submission and the name of the officer who accepted it, and follow up if you hear nothing — subsidy files move slowly, and a paper trail is your protection.
Information is also available through the official website of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration at andamannicobar.gov.in. If anything on the form contradicts this post, the form and the department’s guidelines win — they are the official source.
Why this deadline is so tight — and what to do about it
The invitation was reported on 22–23 October 2026, giving island fishers roughly a week to apply. That is short, and it means many eligible fishers may never hear about it in time. If you know a fisher in the Andamans — especially in a tribal fishing area — pass this on today, not tomorrow. A shared message costs nothing; a missed deadline costs a family its safety gear for another year.
It is also worth noting what this scheme is not. It is not an insurance scheme and it does not replace accident cover — it pays part of the cost of physical safety equipment. And it is a UT Plan scheme for 2026–27, specific to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: fishers in other states should look to their own state fisheries departments and to national schemes instead.
Related Fisheries India guides
- PMMSY Gives Fish Farmers 60% Subsidy in 2026 — the national flagship scheme’s subsidy slabs and how to apply through your state fisheries department.
- Andaman Aquaculture Training Oct 28–31 — the islands’ recent brackish-water aquaculture training with ICAR-CIBA.
- Bihar Trains 9,685 Fish Farmers FREE — 332 Batches — how another state is backing fishers with free training in 2026–27.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is the 75% subsidy for everyone?
No. General applicants get 50% of the unit cost; the 75% slab is for Scheduled Tribe fishers and tribal cooperative societies.
Q: What is the last date?
30 October 2026. Completed applications with required documents must reach the nearest Fisheries Zonal Office or Fisheries Sub-Station on or before that date.
Q: Which boats are covered?
Eligible non-motorised, motorised and mechanised fishing boats, provided the applicant holds a registered craft and a valid fishing licence for two consecutive years including the current year.
Q: Where do I get the form?
From the Directorate of Fisheries, Zonal Fisheries Offices or the nearest Fisheries Sub-Stations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with information also on andamannicobar.gov.in.
Q: Does this cover fishing nets or engines?
No — the scheme as reported covers life-saving appliances, fire-fighting appliances and navigational equipment (GPS, VHF, DAT etc.), not general fishing gear.
Sources: Nicobar Times, “Fisheries Department Invites Applications for Subsidy on Purchase of Safety and Navigational Equipment” (Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 October 2026); The Wave Andaman, “Andaman Offers 75% Fishing Safety Equipment Subsidy” (23 October 2026). Both report the same scheme, subsidy slabs and 30 October 2026 deadline; figures verified 29 October 2026. No per-item price cap or total scheme budget is stated in the sources, and none is claimed here. The images in this post are illustrations, not photographs of the scheme or its applicants.