Fisheries Cooperatives
Agriculture
- PYQs6
- Articles1
Background
Cooperatives are a cornerstone of rural development and inclusive growth in India, particularly in primary sectors like fisheries. The emphasis on women-led cooperatives highlights gender empowerment, social equity, and sustainable livelihood generation, which are critical themes for UPSC.
Cooperative societies are voluntary associations of individuals working together to achieve common economic, social, and cultural goals through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. In the fisheries sector, these cooperatives empower fishers by facilitating collective bargaining, improving market access, providing financial support, and promoting sustainable fishing practices, with a special focus on integrating women into the value chain.
Facts & tables
- Constitutional Basis
- Right to form cooperatives (Art. 19(1)(c) - Fundamental Right), Promotion of cooperative societies (Art. 43B - DPSP).
- Role in Fisheries
- Enhance income, provide credit, facilitate marketing, supply inputs, promote sustainable practices, empower marginalized fishers.
- Women's Role
- Women-led cooperatives promote gender equality, financial independence, and often lead to better community development and resource management.
- Government Support
- Supported through schemes like PMMSY and PMMKSSY, offering incentives, capacity building, and financial aid.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Agricultural Policies & Supply Chains |
| Conceptual area | Welfare Schemes & Social Policies |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Cooperation | Overall policy and framework |
| Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying | Sector-specific support and promotion |
| National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) | Supports formation and strengthening |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Purpose or function of a policy tool
- Voluntary associations for common economic/social goals.
- Constitutional backing: Art 19(1)(c) (FR), Art 43B (DPSP).
- Empower fishers, improve market access, provide credit.
- Women-led cooperatives boost gender equality and sustainable practices.
- Supported by schemes like PMMSY, PMMKSSY with incentives.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2021 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2020 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Purpose or function of a policy tool |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
Timeline
-
Agricultural Policies & Supply Chains
Conceptual area
-
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Purpose or function of a policy tool
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2021
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Women led cooperatives in fisheries
Fisheries cooperatives are voluntary associations empowering fishers through collective action, market access, and financial support, with constitutional backing. Women-led cooperatives are crucial for gender empowerment and sustainable development in the sector, actively promoted by government schemes.
See also
Past papers
2016–2026 · 6 questions
In the news
Women led cooperatives in fisheries
Fisheries cooperatives are voluntary associations empowering fishers through collective action, market access, and financial support, with constitutional backing. Women-led cooperatives are crucial for gender empowerment and sustainable development in the sector, actively promoted by government schemes.
Try these PYQs
What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ (NAM) scheme?
1. It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
2. It provides the farmers access to the nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
E-NAM (National Agriculture Market) is an online trading platform for agriculture produce aiming to help farmers, traders, and buyers with online trading and getting a better price through smooth marketing. Statement 1 is Correct: Pan-India electronic trading portal (Correct) This is a core feature of NAM. It creates a unified online platform where farmers can connect with buyers from across the country, eliminating geographical restrictions and potentially increasing market access. Statement 2 is Correct: Access to nationwide markets and better prices (Correct) NAM allows farmers to see prices prevailing in various mandis (wholesale markets) across the country. This transparency empowers them to choose the market offering the best price for their produce, potentially fetching them higher returns compared to traditional, localised markets. Therefore, the correct answer is 1 and 2 both are correct.Hence, option C is the correct answer.
In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture?
1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
6. Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditures aimed at improving the agricultural sector, including infrastructure development, technological improvements, and providing institutional support. Statement 1 is incorrect: Fixing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a policy decision, not an investment. While it affects the agricultural sector, it is not a direct public investment in terms of capital expenditure. Statement 2 is correct: The computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) is a public investment because it involves government funds directed towards modernizing agricultural credit systems, enhancing efficiency, and accessibility for farmers. Statement 3 is correct: Social Capital development is a public investment in agriculture, as it involves building networks and community-based resources that help farmers improve productivity and access to resources. Statement 4 is incorrect: Free electricity supply is more of a subsidy, not a direct public investment in the form of capital expenditure. Statement 5 is incorrect: Waiver of agricultural loans is a policy measure aimed at alleviating farmer debt but does not qualify as an investment in infrastructure or capital. Statement 6 is correct: The setting up of cold storage facilities by the government is a direct public investment aimed at improving agricultural infrastructure and reducing post-harvest losses. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements:
1. In terms of short-term credit delivery to the agriculture sector, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) deliver more credit in comparison of Scheduled Commercial Banks are Regional Rural Banks
2. One of the most important functions of DCCBs is to provide funds to the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. In terms of short-term credit delivery to the agriculture sector, Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) generally deliver more credit compared to District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs). SCBs and RRBs have a larger network and resources to provide credit to the agriculture sector. Statement 2 is correct. One of the primary functions of DCCBs is indeed to provide funds to the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). DCCBs act as the intermediary between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and PACS, facilitating the flow of credit from the central bank to the grassroots level through cooperative credit institutions. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and "Blue Transformation".
Which of the following combinations about the "Four Betters" proposed by FAO for "Blue Transformation" is correct ?
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations guides its global work through a strategic framework aimed at supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The core organizing principle of this framework is the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems to achieve the "Four Betters". The "Four Betters" are officially defined as:
1. Better Production: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
2. Better Nutrition: Ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving access to healthy diets.
3. Better Environment: Protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
4. Better Life: Promoting inclusive economic growth and reducing inequalities, leaving no one behind. The Blue Transformation is a specific FAO vision and programmatic priority area that aims to secure and maximize the contribution of aquatic food systems (fisheries and aquaculture) to achieve these overarching "Four Betters". Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they include fabricated pillars such as "better ocean", "better coral reefs", "better estuaries", or "better mangrove vegetation", which are not part of the FAO's official strategic framework. Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.
With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct. The Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion aims to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with a cluster approach. Statement 2 is also correct. Millets are mainly grown in regions of low annual rainfall and poor arid soil. It is inadequate, small, marginal and tribal farmers, who cannot afford costly irrigation practices, depend on the cultivation of millets. Hence these farmers benefit from the scheme and have a larger stake in this scheme. Statement 3 is not correct. There is no such provision to encourage commercial crop farmers to shift to millet cultivation.
Show 1 more PYQs
In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-smart Agriculture, consider the following statements:
1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme.
2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France.
3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centres.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. The Climate-Smart Village (CSV) approach is an initiative under the CCAFS program, which focuses on improving climate resilience in agriculture through research and innovation. CCAFS operates in multiple countries, including India, and works on sustainable farming practices, resource efficiency, and climate adaptation strategies in rural areas. Statement 2 is correct. CCAFS is a global research initiative under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which is a network of international agricultural research organizations. However, CGIAR’s global headquarters is in Montpellier, France, making the statement factually accurate. Statement 3 is correct. ICRISAT, based in Hyderabad, India, is a major research institute focusing on improving dryland agriculture. It is indeed one of the CGIAR’s 15 global research centers, working on climate resilience, crop improvement, and food security in semi-arid regions.