Fishing remains one of India’s most hazardous livelihoods — and the Government of India’s flagship fisheries scheme has a safety net built for exactly that. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), marine and inland fishers, fish farmers and allied fish workers get group accident insurance cover of up to ₹5 lakh, with the entire premium paid by the Centre and states — nothing is collected from the beneficiary.
Here is what the cover includes, who is eligible, how the premium is funded, and how claims are settled — all as reported by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying in Parliament.
How Much Cover Do Fishers Get?
| Event | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Death or permanent total disability due to accident | ₹5,00,000 |
| Permanent partial disability | ₹2,50,000 |
| Hospitalisation expenses after an accident | ₹25,000 |
Coverage applies to both marine and inland fishers and allied fish workers. Beneficiaries must be aged 18 to 70 years.
Who Pays the Premium? The Beneficiary Pays Nothing
The entire insurance premium is shared between the Centre and the state/UT — no contribution is collected from fishers or fish farmers. The sharing pattern:
| State/UT category | Centre : State |
|---|---|
| General states | 60 : 40 |
| Himalayan & North-Eastern states | 90 : 10 |
| Union Territories | 100% Centre |
The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is the nodal agency for implementation; cover is provided through the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd.
Scale of the Scheme So Far
- ₹149.07 crore released by the Centre towards GAIS premium since PMMSY’s inception, covering 167.33 lakh fishers (about 33.46 lakh fishers annually on average).
- 3,261 accidental death claims reported under the scheme till date.
- In Goa alone, more than 14,500 fishers have been brought under PMMSY insurance coverage.
Compared with the erstwhile Blue Revolution scheme, GAIS offers higher benefits and wider coverage following feedback from states — for example, in the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), the Centre released ₹54.03 crore covering 103.73 lakh fishers, at an average of 34.57 lakh fishers annually (Rajya Sabha reply, 23 July 2025).
How to Claim: Timelines You Must Know
As per the GAIS Standard Operating Procedure, keep these deadlines:
- Intimate the claim within 120 days of the accident.
- Submit all mandatory documents within 180 days of the accident.
- The insurer must settle the claim within 15 days of receiving a complete proposal with all documents.
Missed intimation is the most common reason claims stall — inform the state fisheries department or the district-level officer immediately after any accident involving an enrolled fisher.
Who Is Enrolled — and How to Check
Enrolment is done through the state fisheries department; states submit beneficiary lists and share of premium, and NFDB coordinates coverage. If you are an active marine or inland fisher, fish farmer or allied fish worker aged 18–70, contact your district fisheries officer or the nearest Matsya/Fishermen cooperative office to confirm your enrolment and verify your details before an accident — not after.
Why This Matters
Sea travel, rough weather, engine fires and night fishing make accident risk a daily reality for India’s fishing communities. A ₹5 lakh death/PTD cover, free of cost, with a 15-day claim settlement mandate, is among the strongest social-security components in any Indian livelihood scheme. The bigger challenge now is awareness and enrolment verification — so share this with fishers in your network.
Sources: Lok Sabha Q&A reply (Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying) — GAIS premium, coverage and ₹149.07 crore/167.33 lakh figures; PIB Release 2147324 (23 July 2025, Rajya Sabha reply) — 60:40/90:10 premium sharing, ₹54.03 crore for 103.73 lakh fishers (2022-23 to 2024-25); The Navhind Times — 14,500+ Goa fishers covered. All figures verified against official sources on 23 October 2026.