Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is India’s flagship fisheries scheme — and one of the most predictable topics in fisheries exams. Launched on Thursday, 10 September 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it carries the largest single investment Indian fisheries has ever seen. Questions on its outlay, targets, subsidy slabs, insurance cover and sub-schemes appear in ICAR, ASRB, state fisheries and UPSC-style papers year after year.
This set gives you 20 exam-style multiple-choice questions on PMMSY — every answer verified against official sources (Press Information Bureau releases and Parliament answers) and explained, so you revise the fact and the reason behind it. Use it after reading the revision tables below, or jump straight to the questions and check yourself against the answer key.
PMMSY at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) |
| Launched | 10 September 2020, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (digital launch) |
| Originally approved investment | ₹20,050 crore (Centre ₹9,407 crore + States ₹4,880 crore + beneficiaries ₹5,763 crore) |
| Original period | FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25; continued in its existing form up to September 2026 (PIB, 10 September 2026) |
| Budget allocation | ₹2,500 crore in Budget Estimates 2026-27 |
| Implemented by | Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying |
| Components | Central Sector Scheme (CS) + Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) |
| Part of | AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package; the Blue Revolution push |
| Official portals | pmmsy.dof.gov.in and the National Fisheries Digital Platform (nfdp.dof.gov.in) |
The Five Big Targets of PMMSY
Memorise this table — at least one of these five numbers appears in almost every PMMSY question set:
| Target | Figure (by 2024-25) |
|---|---|
| Additional fish production | +70 lakh tonnes — taking total production to 220 lakh tonnes (22 million tonnes) from 13.75 million tonnes in 2018-19 |
| Fisheries export earnings | ₹1,00,000 crore |
| Fishers’ and fish farmers’ incomes | Doubled |
| Post-harvest losses | Reduced from 20-25% to about 10% |
| Employment | 55 lakh additional direct and indirect jobs |
As of 11 August 2026, projects worth ₹21,394.88 crore — including a Central share of ₹9,510.89 crore — had been approved under PMMSY for 2020-21 to 2025-26 (PIB, 10 September 2026). India’s total fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, and the Department of Fisheries has notified 34 fisheries clusters under the scheme to push organised, cluster-based growth.
20 PMMSY MCQs — Questions
Q1. PMMSY was launched on which date?
(a) 10 September 2020
(b) 15 August 2019
(c) 26 January 2021
(d) 2 October 2020
Answer: (a) 10 September 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi digitally launched PMMSY on 10 September 2020, along with the e-Gopala App.
Q2. What was the originally approved investment under PMMSY at launch?
(a) ₹10,000 crore
(b) ₹20,050 crore
(c) ₹25,000 crore
(d) ₹7,522 crore
Answer: (b) ₹20,050 crore. The PMO release of 9 September 2020 put the investment at ₹20,050 crore for FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 — the highest ever in the fisheries sector. Later PIB releases (February and September 2026) cite the total investment as ₹20,750 crore as approvals progressed; the original launch figure is ₹20,050 crore.
Q3. PMMSY was launched as part of which package?
(a) Make in India
(b) AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package
(c) Digital India
(d) Startup India
Answer: (b) AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package. The scheme was announced under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and is the flagship vehicle of the Blue Revolution in fisheries.
Q4. Which ministry implements PMMSY?
(a) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(b) Ministry of Jal Shakti
(c) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
(d) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Answer: (c) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The scheme is implemented by its Department of Fisheries; the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) supports implementation on the ground.
Q5. PMMSY is an umbrella scheme comprising which two components?
(a) Central Sector Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Scheme
(b) Rural and Urban components
(c) Marine and Inland components only
(d) Subsidy and Loan components
Answer: (a) Central Sector Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Central Sector activities are implemented by central agencies; Centrally Sponsored beneficiary-oriented activities run through State governments.
Q6. What is the fish production target under PMMSY by 2024-25?
(a) 150 lakh tonnes
(b) 220 lakh tonnes
(c) 175 lakh tonnes
(d) 300 lakh tonnes
Answer: (b) 220 lakh tonnes. PMMSY aimed to enhance production by an additional 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25, from 13.75 million tonnes in 2018-19 to 22 million tonnes (220 lakh tonnes). India produced 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
Q7. The export earnings target under PMMSY by 2024-25 was:
(a) ₹50,000 crore
(b) ₹75,000 crore
(c) ₹1,00,000 crore
(d) ₹1,50,000 crore
Answer: (c) ₹1,00,000 crore. One of the five headline targets announced at launch. For scale, India’s actual seafood exports hit a record ₹73,890.46 crore in FY 2025-26.
Q8. PMMSY aims to reduce post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about:
(a) 15%
(b) 12%
(c) 10%
(d) 5%
Answer: (c) 10%. Cutting post-harvest losses to about 10% was a core objective, to be achieved through cold chain, ice plants, cold storage and modernised value chains.
Q9. How many additional direct and indirect employment opportunities did PMMSY aim to generate?
(a) 20 lakh
(b) 35 lakh
(c) 55 lakh
(d) 75 lakh
Answer: (c) 55 lakh. The launch release promised 55 lakh additional direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries and allied activities.
Q10. Under PMMSY, what is the capital subsidy for general-category beneficiaries on approved beneficiary-oriented activities?
(a) 25%
(b) 40%
(c) 60%
(d) 75%
Answer: (b) 40%. General-category beneficiaries get up to 40% of the approved project/unit cost. Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes get the enhanced 60% slab.
Q11. Women, SC and ST beneficiaries receive what subsidy rate under PMMSY?
(a) 40%
(b) 50%
(c) 60%
(d) 90%
Answer: (c) 60%. The 60% slab is one of the most-tested PMMSY facts. It applies to ponds, hatcheries, RAS, biofloc units, cage culture, cold storage, fish kiosks and other approved components, calculated on approved unit-cost norms — not on whatever amount the beneficiary spends.
Q12. Under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) of PMMSY, the cover for accidental death or permanent total disability is:
(a) ₹2 lakh
(b) ₹3 lakh
(c) ₹5 lakh
(d) ₹10 lakh
Answer: (c) ₹5 lakh. GAIS pays ₹5 lakh for accidental death or permanent total disability, ₹2.5 lakh for permanent partial disability and ₹25,000 for accidental hospitalisation. The fisher pays no premium — the Centre and States share it 60:40 (90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States; 100% Centre in UTs).
Q13. What is the eligible age group for GAIS cover under PMMSY?
(a) 18 to 60 years
(b) 18 to 70 years
(c) 21 to 65 years
(d) 16 to 60 years
Answer: (b) 18 to 70 years. GAIS covers fishers and allied fish workers aged 18 to 70. Note the contrast: the separate livelihood and nutritional support during the fishing ban/lean period applies to the 18 to 60 age group.
Q14. Under GAIS, an accident must be reported within how many days for a claim?
(a) 30 days
(b) 60 days
(c) 120 days
(d) 365 days
Answer: (c) 120 days. The accident must be reported within 120 days and the complete claim file submitted within 180 days. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, the Centre released ₹149.07 crore for GAIS cover of 167.33 lakh fishers, and 3,261 accidental death claims were reported (Rajya Sabha answer, 11 February 2026).
Q15. PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana) is:
(a) A Central Sector sub-scheme under PMMSY, ₹6,000 crore, 2023-24 to 2026-27
(b) A state scheme of Kerala only
(c) A loan scheme run by NABARD
(d) The old name of the Blue Revolution scheme
Answer: (a) A Central Sector sub-scheme under PMMSY, ₹6,000 crore, 2023-24 to 2026-27. PM-MKSSY focuses on formalisation, insurance, institutional credit and traceability. Its standout feature is aquaculture insurance support: a one-time incentive of up to 40% of the insurance premium, capped at ₹25,000 per hectare and ₹1 lakh for up to 4 hectares, for one crop cycle.
Q16. The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility was extended to fishers and fish farmers in which year, and what is the enhanced lending limit from 2025-26?
(a) 2018-19; limit raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh
(b) 2020-21; limit raised from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh
(c) 2016-17; limit raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh
(d) 2022-23; limit raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh
Answer: (a) 2018-19; limit raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh. KCC was extended to fishers from 2018-19 for working capital needs, and from 2025-26 the lending limit for fisheries and allied activities was enhanced from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh (PIB, 29 July 2025).
Q17. What is the assistance under PM-MKSSY’s aquaculture insurance for one crop cycle?
(a) 25% of premium, capped at ₹10,000 per hectare
(b) 40% of premium, capped at ₹25,000 per hectare and ₹1 lakh for up to 4 hectares
(c) 60% of premium with no cap
(d) Full premium paid by the government
Answer: (b) 40% of premium, capped at ₹25,000 per hectare and ₹1 lakh for up to 4 hectares. The one-time incentive is paid directly through DBT. Four public insurers — OICL, AICL, NIAL and UIIC — cover shrimp, prawn, freshwater and cold-water species.
Q18. How many fisheries clusters has the Department of Fisheries notified under PMMSY?
(a) 12
(b) 21
(c) 34
(d) 50
Answer: (c) 34. The cluster-based approach — notified in a PIB release of 10 February 2026 — aims to enhance competitiveness, economies of scale and organised growth of fisheries and aquaculture.
Q19. Which of the following is NOT a component of the PMMSY framework?
(a) Central Sector Scheme
(b) Centrally Sponsored Scheme
(c) PM-MKSSY sub-scheme
(d) Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
Answer: (d) Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). FIDF is a separate concessional-finance fund (₹7,522.48 crore), created before PMMSY for fisheries infrastructure — it is not a PMMSY component. The Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored components, plus the PM-MKSSY sub-scheme, are PMMSY’s own structure.
Q20. PMMSY was continued in its existing form up to which month, and what did Budget 2026-27 allocate to it?
(a) March 2025; ₹1,000 crore
(b) September 2026; ₹2,500 crore
(c) December 2026; ₹5,000 crore
(d) March 2027; ₹2,000 crore
Answer: (b) September 2026; ₹2,500 crore. The PIB release of 10 September 2026 — marking six years of PMMSY — states the scheme was continued in its existing form up to September 2026, with a record ₹2,500 crore allocated in Budget Estimates 2026-27. The original framework covered FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
Answer Key — Quick Revision
| Q | Answer | One-line fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | (a) | Launched 10 September 2020 |
| 2 | (b) | Original outlay ₹20,050 crore |
| 3 | (b) | AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package |
| 4 | (c) | Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying |
| 5 | (a) | Central Sector + Centrally Sponsored components |
| 6 | (b) | 220 lakh tonnes by 2024-25 |
| 7 | (c) | Exports ₹1,00,000 crore by 2024-25 |
| 8 | (c) | Post-harvest losses to ~10% |
| 9 | (c) | 55 lakh additional jobs |
| 10 | (b) | 40% subsidy, general category |
| 11 | (c) | 60% subsidy, women/SC/ST |
| 12 | (c) | GAIS ₹5 lakh death/permanent total disability |
| 13 | (b) | GAIS age group 18-70 years |
| 14 | (c) | Report accident within 120 days |
| 15 | (a) | PM-MKSSY ₹6,000 crore, 2023-24 to 2026-27 |
| 16 | (a) | KCC since 2018-19; limit ₹5 lakh from 2025-26 |
| 17 | (b) | 40% premium incentive, ₹25,000/ha cap |
| 18 | (c) | 34 fisheries clusters notified |
| 19 | (d) | FIDF is separate, not a PMMSY component |
| 20 | (b) | Continued to September 2026; BE 2026-27 ₹2,500 crore |
How to Use This Question Bank
1. Learn the tables first. The “at a glance” table and the five-targets table carry the answers to at least eight of these twenty questions. If you can recite the outlay (₹20,050 crore), the launch date (10 September 2020), the production target (220 lakh tonnes), the export target (₹1,00,000 crore), the subsidy slabs (40%/60%) and the GAIS figures (₹5 lakh / ₹2.5 lakh / ₹25,000), you are already most of the way there.
2. Watch the traps. Examiners love near-miss options: the original outlay ₹20,050 crore versus the later-cited ₹20,750 crore; the GAIS age group 18-70 versus the ban-period support age group 18-60; the 120-day reporting deadline versus the 180-day document deadline. Each is explained in the answer above — read the explanation, not just the letter.
3. Pair this set with the scheme itself. Read our detailed guides: how PMMSY’s 60% subsidy works in practice, the ₹5 lakh fisher cover and the 120-day claim rule, and how Punjab’s women farmers took 53% of the state’s fisheries subsidy. For the legal framework behind the scheme, try our Fisheries Acts MCQs.
4. Check the current position before you apply. PMMSY’s original framework ran FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 and was continued in its existing form up to September 2026; the Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹2,500 crore to the scheme. Subsidy rates and unit costs can change between phases, so confirm the live position for your state and component at pmmsy.dof.gov.in, the National Fisheries Digital Platform, or your District Fisheries Office before applying. No new-phase enrolment window or deadline is claimed in this post, because none has been announced in the sources checked on 15 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PMMSY still running in November 2026?
PMMSY’s original five-year framework covered FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, and the scheme was continued in its existing form up to September 2026, according to the PIB release of 10 September 2026. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated a record ₹2,500 crore to PMMSY. For the live position in your state, check pmmsy.dof.gov.in or your State Fisheries Department.
What is the difference between PMMSY’s ₹20,050 crore and ₹20,750 crore figures?
₹20,050 crore was the investment approved at launch in September 2020 (Centre ₹9,407 crore + States ₹4,880 crore + beneficiaries ₹5,763 crore). Later PIB releases cite ₹20,750 crore as the total investment as the scheme progressed. In exams, the launch figure — ₹20,050 crore — is the standard answer.
Who can claim the 60% subsidy under PMMSY?
Women, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries (and their cooperatives/SHGs) get up to 60% of the approved project or unit cost on beneficiary-oriented activities; general-category beneficiaries get up to 40%. The percentage applies to approved unit-cost norms for the component, not to any amount the applicant chooses to spend.
Does GAIS cover death from natural causes or illness?
No. The Group Accident Insurance Scheme pays only for accidental death, accidental disability and accidental hospitalisation. Natural deaths are not covered. Claims must be reported within 120 days of the accident, with complete documents within 180 days.
What is PM-MKSSY and how is it different from PMMSY?
PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana) is a Central Sector sub-scheme under the PMMSY umbrella, with a ₹6,000 crore outlay for 2023-24 to 2026-27. It focuses on formalisation, aquaculture insurance, institutional credit and traceability — including the 40% aquaculture insurance premium incentive — while PMMSY is the overall flagship scheme.
Sources checked 15 November 2026: PIB release PRID 1652573 (PMO, 9 September 2020 — launch, ₹20,050 crore, five targets); PIB release of 10 September 2026 (six years of PMMSY — ₹20,750 crore total investment, continued up to September 2026, BE 2026-27 ₹2,500 crore, approvals ₹21,394.88 crore as of 11 August 2026); PIB release PRID 2225772 (Lok Sabha answer, 10 February 2026 — 34 fisheries clusters notified); PIB release PRID 2149639 (Lok Sabha answer, 29 July 2025 — GAIS ₹5 lakh / ₹2.5 lakh / ₹25,000, age 18-70, KCC limit ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh from 2025-26); Rajya Sabha answer of 11 February 2026 (GAIS ₹149.07 crore released, 167.33 lakh fishers covered, 3,261 death claims); PMMSY operational guidelines (outlay split ₹9,407 / ₹4,880 / ₹5,763 crore; e-Gopala launch); Fisheries India verified posts on GAIS claims, PMMSY subsidy and Punjab disbursements. Figures are as stated in those sources on the dates given; scheme positions can change — confirm on pmmsy.dof.gov.in before applying. Images in this post are illustrations.