PIB Snippets
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UPSC Prelims & Mains
PIB Snippets — 29th September 2026
Today’s official releases: PM-AJAY’s digital push for SC welfare, and PM-MKSSY’s aquaculture insurance incentive under PMMSY.
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PM-AJAY: Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana
News Context
- The scheme has shown significant progress with the launch of a mobile app and portal for real-time digital implementation.
Scheme at a Glance — Key Facts for Prelims
- Launched in FY 2021-22 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Target group: Scheduled Castes (16.6% of India’s population). Digital tools: PM-AJAY Mobile App and PM-AJAY Portal.
- A merger scheme of three earlier schemes: PM Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
Three Components
Adarsh Gram
Fills critical infrastructure and service gaps to turn SC-majority villages into model villages.
Grants-in-Aid (GIA)
Funds state/district-level projects for livelihoods, skilling, infrastructure and residential schools.
Hostels
Constructs and repairs hostels for SC students, mainly from rural and remote areas.
Eligibility
Infrastructure grants need 40%+ SC population and total population of 500+; GIA priority to families with income up to ₹2.50 lakh.
Constitutional links: Article 341 (President specifies SCs), Article 46 (State promotes SC/ST educational and economic interests), Article 338 (National Commission for Scheduled Castes), Articles 330 & 332 (reservation of seats for SCs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies).
Source: PIB
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PM-MKSSY: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana
News Context
- PM-MKSSY’s aquaculture insurance initiative aims to protect farmers from risks such as diseases, floods and climate-related changes.
Scheme at a Glance — Key Facts for Prelims
- Approved 8 February 2024; relevant part is Component 1-B, which incentivises aquaculture insurance.
- Delivered via the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) — a one-time incentive (OTI) for one crop cycle.
- A sub-scheme of PMMSY, with an aquaculture productivity target of 5 tonnes/hectare.
| Category | Incentive |
|---|---|
| General (all aquaculture) | Up to 40% of insurance premium |
| Pond-based aquaculture | ₹25,000/hectare, max ₹1,00,000 for up to 4 hectares |
| Advanced systems (Cage Culture, RAS, Biofloc, Raceways) | 40% of premium, max ₹1,00,000, unit size up to 1,800 m³ |
| SC, ST & women beneficiaries | Additional 10% over the General Category |
Claim Settlement
- Beneficiary informs the insurer immediately on an insured peril; a loss assessor evaluates the damage and the claim is paid.
- Settlement within 30 days for shrimp culture and 45 days for other aquaculture activities.
Static linkage: PMMSY is the flagship fisheries scheme under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying — part of the “Blue Revolution” push. RAS recycles water in tanks; Biofloc uses microbial flocs to treat water and feed fish; cage culture raises fish in floating enclosures.
Source: PIB
