Fisheries Export Infrastructure and Value Addition
Agriculture
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
UPSC examines the challenges and government initiatives in boosting key economic sectors. Fisheries infrastructure and value addition are vital for India's export potential, rural economy, and food processing industry.
Development of robust post-harvest infrastructure, including processing plants, cold storage, and logistics, is critical for enhancing the quality, safety, and competitiveness of India's seafood exports. Value addition transforms raw produce into higher-value products, boosting farmer income and export earnings.
Facts & tables
- Importance
- Crucial for meeting international quality standards and increasing export competitiveness.
- Key Infrastructure
- Fish processing plants, cold storage, automated machinery, handling facilities for live/chilled/dried fish.
- Funding Mechanisms
- Supported by schemes like PMMSY, FIDF, and MPEDA's TDSVMP.
- Economic Impact
- Increases export earnings, creates jobs, and enhances value realization for fishermen.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Food Processing Industry |
| Conceptual area | Export Promotion |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Department of Fisheries, Government of India | Promotes |
| MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority) | Supports |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Policy measures
- Modernizes fish processing and storage.
- Enhances quality and safety of exports.
- Boosts value realization for marine products.
- Supported by PMMSY, FIDF, MPEDA schemes.
- Crucial for India's global seafood competitiveness.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2014 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
-
Food Processing Industry
Conceptual area
-
Export Promotion
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Traceability systems in seafood export
India is actively investing in modernizing its fisheries export infrastructure and promoting value addition to meet global standards, enhance competitiveness, and increase foreign exchange earnings from seafood.
See also
Past papers
2014–2026 · 5 questions
In the news
Traceability systems in seafood export
India is actively investing in modernizing its fisheries export infrastructure and promoting value addition to meet global standards, enhance competitiveness, and increase foreign exchange earnings from seafood.
Try these PYQs
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.
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.
In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the ‘Seed Replacement Rates’ of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/ constraints in its wider / greater implementation?
1. There is no National Seeds Policy in place.
2. There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality vegetable seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.
3. There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is incorrect: India has a National Seeds Policy (2002), which provides a framework for quality assurance, seed certification, and private sector participation. Statement 2 is incorrect: The private sector plays a significant role in the production and distribution of seeds, particularly for hybrid and vegetable crops (e.g., Mahyco, Syngenta, Nunhems, etc.). Statement 3 is correct: For crops like pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds, which are low-value but high-volume, there is indeed a shortage of certified seeds due to lower profitability and investment. Thus, only statement three is correct.
Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?
* The country's vegetable oil imports for the first six months of the oil year during November 2018 to April 2019 stood at 75,41,689 tonne, up about 3% from 73,18,295 tonne reported in the same period last year. * Vegetable oils account for the highest import in terms of value in the last five years. India relies on imports for 70 percent of its edible oil consumption.
With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements:
1. The National Programme for Organic Production' (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
2. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority' (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.
3. Sikkim has become India's first fully organic State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), not the Ministry of Rural Development. Statement 2 is Correct: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) does function as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP. APEDA plays a crucial role in promoting and certifying organic products in India. Statement 3 is Correct: Sikkim has indeed become India's first fully organic State. This achievement signifies India's efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices. Therefore, the correct answer is 2 and 3 only.
Show 2 more PYQs
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 about turmeric during the year 2022–23:
I. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
II. More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India.
III. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
India produces about 80% of the world’s turmeric and exports around 65% globally. ✅ Statement II: Correct
India grows over 30 turmeric varieties like Alleppey Finger, Erode, Sangli, Salem, Nizamabad, and Rajapore. ✅ Statement III: Correct
Major producing states include Telangana (largest), Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Correct Answer: (D) All statements are correct.