11TH SEPTEMBER, 2025
Five years of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
Launched on September 10, 2020 by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for a
period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
The scheme has now been extended up to 2025–26.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is nodal Pradhan Mantri Matsya
agency for implementing the training, awareness and Sampada Yojana
capacity-building programmes under PMMSY.
PMMSY will be implemented as an umbrella scheme having
both Centrally Sector Components and Centrally Sponsored Aims and Objectives
Scheme Components.
Key Achievements Harnessing of fisheries potential
The country has emerged as the second-largest fish
producer in the world, contributing nearly 8% of global fish Enhancing of fish production and productivity
production.
Modernizing and strengthening of value chain
The scheme has created 58 lakh livelihoods and empowered
- post -harvest management and quality
99,018 women.
Strategic Initiatives improvement
Empowering Women in Fisheries: Provides up to 60% Doubling fishers and fish farmers incomes
financial assistance for women-oriented projects and and generation of employment
supports climate-resilient coastal villages.
Technology Adoption: Scaled up Biofloc and Recirculatory Enhancing contribution to Agriculture GVA
Aquaculture System (RAS) units to boost productivity and exports
sustainably.
Formalization & Digitalization: The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Social, physical and economic security for
Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (sub-scheme of PMMSY) and fishers and fish farmers
National Fisheries Digital Platform formalize the sector and
offer single-window access to benefits. Robust fisheries management and regulatory
Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV): framework
The development of 100 CRCFV aims to enhance climate
Source: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
resilience in coastal communities.
UN Report Warns that Record Military spending Threatens Global Peace and Development
UN Secretary General released a report titled “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and
Peaceful Future”.
The report emphasizes on recalibrating global approaches to security and development, reversing the dual trends of rising
military expenditure and widening development financing gaps.
Key Highlights of Report
Policy Recommendations by UN Report
Global Military Spending: It hit $2.7 trillion last year
Prioritize diplomacy, peaceful settlement of disputes, and
(according to SIPRI), and is projected to reach $6.6 trillion
confidence-building measures to address the underlying
by 2035 if current trends persist.
causes of growing military expenditure.
During 2022-2025, its share has risen from 2.2% to 2.5%
Bring military expenditure to the fore of disarmament
of world’s GDP and from 6.6% to 7.1% of government
discussions, and improve links between arms control and
budgets.
development.
China, India, Russia, USA and the European Union
Promote transparency and accountability around military
account for over 70% of military expenditure.
expenditure to build trust and confidence among Member
Financing Imbalance: Development financing has not
States.
kept pace with rising military expenditures even as annual
Reinvigorate multilateral finance for development.
financing gap for SDGs widens to $4 trillion.
Advance a human-centred approach to security and
Impact of Rising Military Spending: Exacerbates
sustainable development.
geopolitical tensions, fuels arms races and increases risks
of conflict.
It is also crowding out resources essential for SDGs like poverty reduction, education, health, etc.
It is expected to add to already high levels of public debt, disproportionately affecting fragile states and poorest countries.
1/4
China’s Curbs on Rare Earth Magnet (REM) Exports Impact Indian Automakers
These curbs can impact automobile prices as REMs are crucial element in making electric vehicles.
Also import of complete parts instead of REMs could reduce domestic value addition by automakers which is a key requisite
for incentives under PLI scheme.
About Rare Earth magnets
Rare earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets commercially available.
They are typically made from alloys that contain rare earth elements such as Neodymium, Praseodymium, and Dysprosium.
Application: They form critical parts of EVs, renewable energy, and cutting-edge defence systems and their absence can
paralyse the supply chain.
Challenges Associated with REMs
Supply Chain Concentration: China accounts for about 70% of global rare earth metals mining and holds nearly 90% of the
world's REMs’ production.
Despite holding 5th-largest rare earth reserves India has no domestic capacity and imports nearly all REMs used.
REE magnet supply chain could take 3-4 years.
High Risk Venture: It’s supply chain is highly capital and time intensive.
Initiative Taken
National Critical Mineral Missions launched for self-reliance and recycling.
Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) in talks with the Japanese and Korean companies to manufacture rare earth magnets
commercially.
Scientists Confirmed the Discovery of a Large Offshore Aquifer under the Atlantic Ocean
Similar to land aquifers, offshore aquifers are bodies of rock or sediment which contain freshwater but are located beneath the
sea floor.
Key Features of Offshore Aquifers
Extent: Such aquifers have been found across the globe off the coasts
of Australia, China, North America, South Africa.
Offshore aquifers can extend up to 90 kilometres off the
coast and are believed to contain a million cubic kilometres of
freshwater – about 10% of all terrestrial fresh groundwater.
Freshwater Preservation: A cap rock layer, built from compacted
clay-rich sediment, over the aquifers may have prevented freshwater
from mixing with salt water in the ocean.
Formation: There are generally two theories:
Ice Age Hypothesis: During past ice ages, rainwater seeped into
land areas that are now covered by the ocean.
Connection Hypothesis: Offshore aquifers could be connected
to onshore aquifers, which regularly supply them with water after
rainfall.
Significance: Potential untapped source of freshwater, especially for water-stressed regions and potential buffers during
climate change induced droughts and erratic rainfall.
According to 2023 UN Report, global freshwater demand is predicted to exceed supply by 40% by 2030.
Challenges: High extraction cost, technical barriers, ecological risks on ocean ecosystem including marine life, governance
issues, etc.
2/4
India a Steadfast Partner in Mauritius’ Socio-Economic Growth: Mauritius’ Prime Minister
While on a state visit to India, Mauritius’ PM said India has been and remains a time-tested and trusted partner of Mauritius.
India-Mauritius Relations
Economic: India has emerged as one of Mauritius’ leading trading partners with key Indian exports including pharmaceuticals,
cotton, cereals, motor vehicles, and mineral fuels.
Mauritius is a significant source of FDI into India
constituting around 25% of India’s cumulative FDI since
2000.
Indian companies have invested more than USD 200
million in Mauritius over the past five years.
Development Partnership: India provided Special Economic
Package and extended Line of Credit for priority projects
including Metro Express, Supreme Court building, Social
Housing, etc.
India has traditionally been first responder for Mauritius
in times of crisis including during Covid-19 and Wakashio
oil-spill.
Cultural: Around 70% of Mauritius's population is of Indian
origin.
Girmitiyas (Indentured Indian labourers) were first brought
to Mauritius from Puducherry in 1729.
Strategic and Geopolitical Significance: Mauritius’ location in the Western Indian Ocean is vital for India’s maritime security
and regional influence.
Mauritius is key to India’s MAHASAGAR Vision and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy' and serves as a key gateway for
India's trade and investment in Africa.
Also in News
Adi Sanskriti Iran and IAEA Agreement
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an
Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches Beta Version of “Adi Sanskriti”. agreement to pave the way for resuming cooperation, including on
Adi Sanskriti is envisioned as the world’s first Digital Learning ways of relaunching inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Platform for Tribal Artforms. Earlier, Iran enacts a law suspending cooperation with IAEA after
Major components conflict with Israel and US.
Adi Vishwavidyalaya (Digital Tribal Art Academy): Currently About IAEA
offering 45 immersive courses on tribal dance, painting, crafts, IAEA administers international safeguards to verify the non-
music, and folklore. proliferation commitment of non-nuclear weapon States party to
Adi Sampada (Socio-Cultural Repository): A collection of the NPT.
over 5,000 curated documents across five themes, covering IAEA also facilitates development of applications of nuclear
paintings, dance, clothing & textiles, artefacts and livelihood. energy for peaceful purposes in non-nuclear weapon states
Adi Haat (Online marketplace): Currently linked with TRIFED, party.
this will evolve into a dedicated online marketplace for tribal Under Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint
artisans, enabling sustainable livelihoods and direct consumer Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran reduced
access. its nuclear activities and agreed to greater access for inspectors.
National Industrial Classification (NIC) Aspergillus
Recently, Ministry of statistics and program implementation unveiled Researchers have identified two new species of Black Aspergillus
draft NIC 2025 revising NIC 2008. in Western Ghats.
About NIC About Aspergillus
NIC code is a numerical classification scheme used to categorize The aspergillus is a group of filamentous fungi, which can act as
economic activities into different sectors. saprophytes, endophytes, and opportunistic pathogens.
It utilized across multiple domains, including statistical surveys, Biotechnology Applications: Black Aspergilli are vital in citric
censuses, economic research, registration processes, and for acid production, food fermentation (production of enzymes,
policy formulation by central and state government agencies. organic acids etc.), and agriculture (having phosphate
India brought out its first Standard Industrial Classification in stabilization potential).
1962. Some species form deadly fungal pathogen, and are potent
It was revised multiple times thereafter in consonance carcinogen.
with the revisions in the International Standard Industrial
Classification (ISIC).
3/4
Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV) Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
ISRO signed an agreement with HAL for transfer of Small Satellite Innovations for Defence Excellence - Defence Innovation
Launch Vehicles (SSLV) technology. Organisation (iDEX-DIO) has inked an MoU with EdCIL (India) Limited,
About SSLV driven by the ASPIRE (Accelerating Strategic Progress in Research
SSLV is designed as a quick turnaround, on-demand launch and Education) program.
vehicle that can be efficiently scaled for industrial production. MoU aims to foster the development of dual-use cutting-edge
It has three Solid Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion-based technologies, linking defence expertise with emerging ed-tech
Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage. solutions.
Designed to launch satellites weighing up to 500 kg into Lower About iDEX-DIO
Earth Orbit (LEO). Scheme for iDEX, launched in 2021, aims to provide financial
support to nearly 300 Startups/ MSMEs/individual innovators
and about 20 Partner incubators.
iDEX is being funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation
Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not-for-profit’
company under the aegis of Department of Defence Production,
Ministry of Defence.
Atal innovation mission (AIM)
Recently, India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre was inaugurated at
IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus in UAE under AIM.
About AIM
It is Government of India’s flagship initiative under the auspices of the NITI
Aayog.
Objective: To promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the
country.
Major Programs:
Atal Tinkering Lab to foster innovation at school level( 6th - 12th grades)
Atal Incubation Centres at universities, institutions and corporates to
promote entrepreneurship among young innovators.
ARISE-ANIC program to support innovation in MSMEs and startups.
Place in News Qatar (Capital: Doha)
Indian Prime Minister expressed concern at the attacks in Doha and condemned
the violation of sovereignty of Qatar.
Political Features
Located in West Asia on the Northeastern Coast of Arabian Peninsula.
Bordering Countries: Saudi Arabia.
Bordering Water Bodies: Persian Gulf, Gulf of Bahrain.
Geographical Features
Sand dunes and Salt Flats or Sabkhahs form chief topographical features.
Possess world’s third largest natural gas reserves and is one of world’s
largest exporters of natural gas.
4/4
