Content

1. CATCH LIMITS FOR FISHING
2. BEST PERFORMING PANCHAYATS

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CATCH LIMITS FOR FISHING

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Why in News ?

• ICAR–CMFRI recommended Minimum Legal Size (MLS) for key species like pomfret; States advised to enforce via Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs) using mesh-size norms and MLS to curb juvenile fishing.

Relevance

GS III (Environment & Economy) 

• Sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity, blue economy, resource governance
• Links to IUU fishing, climate change, coastal livelihoods, EEZ management
• Static areas: EEZ, MSY concept, stock assessment, precautionary principle

Practice Question

• “Catch limits and size regulations are essential for ensuring marine sustainability, but enforcement remains India’s biggest challenge.” Discuss in the context of India’s fisheries governance framework.(250 Words)

Basics 

Legal–Institutional Framework

• Fisheries managed by States in territorial waters (up to 12 nm) under MFRAs; Centre regulates EEZ (12–200 nm) and issues advisories for conservation-aligned practices.

ICAR–CMFRI Role

• Conducts periodic stock assessments, species-wise advisories, and ecosystem studies guiding MLS, gear regulations, and conservation measures.

Minimum Legal Size (MLS)

• MLS sets size thresholds to prevent capture of juveniles before first maturity, protecting recruitment and spawning biomass.

Policy Tools for Sustainable Fishing

Gear & Effort Controls

• Mesh-size regulations reduce juvenile bycatch; bans on Bull/Pair Trawling and LED-light fishing in EEZ curb destructive, high-effort fishing.

Spatial Zoning

• Traditional zones reserved for non-mechanised/small motorised boats; mechanised vessels restricted to reduce conflict and overfishing nearshore.

Seasonal Closures

• Uniform 61-day annual fishing ban on both coasts during peak breeding protects spawning stocks and aids stock rebuilding.

Data & Facts 

Stock Health

• 91.1% marine fish stocks healthy per MFSS Report 2022 (latest assessment 2023)—suggests benefits of regulations but needs continued compliance.

Species Focus—Silver Pomfret

• Maharashtra’s ‘State Fish’ to spotlight conservation; notified MLS ~135–140 mm to protect juveniles in breeding grounds.

Welfare During Bans

• Under PMMSY, support of ₹3,000 (Govt) + ₹1,500 (beneficiary); ₹4,500 released during three-month lean/ban period.

Blue Economy Linkages

Livelihood–Conservation Balance

• Combining MLS, bans, zoning, welfare transfers aligns income stability with long-term stock sustainability.

Habitat Enhancement

• Artificial Reefs funded under PMMSY improve habitat complexity, fish aggregation, and local productivity in coastal/traditional zones.

Challenges

Enforcement Gaps

• Monitoring MLS and gear norms across dispersed fleets is difficult; requires vessel tracking, port inspections, and community co-management.

IUU Fishing Risks

• Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fishing can undermine stock gains and distort data-driven management.

Climate Variability

• Warming seas shift species distribution, affecting stock assessments and MLS relevance over time.

Way Forward

Science-Led Adaptive Management

• Update MLS and closures using real-time stock data, climate indicators, and participatory research.

Tech-Enabled Compliance

• Scale VMS/AIS tracking, e-logbooks, QR landing slips for traceability and MLS enforcement.

Co-Management Models

• Empower fisher cooperatives for self-regulation, reporting, and stewardship to reduce IUU and conflicts.

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BEST PERFORMING PANCHAYATS

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Why in News ?

• Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) announced National Panchayat Awards 2023–25 under Incentivisation of Panchayats (IoP) aligned with Localisation of SDGs (LSDGs), rewarding PRIs with ₹50 lakh–₹5 crore grants.

Relevance

GS II (Polity & Governance) 

• 73rd Constitutional Amendment, decentralisation, local governance
• Performance-linked grants, SDG localisation
• Fiscal decentralisation & accountability

Practice Question

• “Performance-based incentives to Panchayats can deepen decentralisation but may also widen inter-regional disparities.”Critically examine.(250 Words)

Basics

Constitutional Basis

• Panchayats derive authority from Part IX (Articles 243–243O); promote democratic decentralisation, local planning, social justice, economic development via elected rural bodies.

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme to strengthen PRIs’ capacity, infrastructure, and training; supports Panchayat Bhawans, digital systems, institutional development.

Incentivisation of Panchayats (IoP)

• Performance-based competitive grants encouraging outcomes in poverty reduction, health, climate action, governance, livelihoods, water sufficiency.

Award Architecture

LSDG Alignment

• Themes mapped to SDGs: poverty, livelihoods, health, WCD, water, climate action, sanitation, infrastructure, social security, governance.

Types of Awards

• DDUPSVP, NDSPSVP, and special categories like Carbon Neutral Panchayat, Gram Urja Swaraj, Climate Action, Atmanirbhar Panchayat.

Incentive Size

• Financial awards from ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore, tier-based; funds reinvested in local development and model replication.

Data & Facts

Digital Planning Scale

• 2,53,992 Gram Panchayats uploaded GPDPs (FY 2025–26), showing near-universal digital local planning adoption.

Financial Digitisation

• PRIs transferred ₹44,000+ crore via eGramSwaraj–PFMS, ensuring real-time payments, reduced leakages, transparent fund flow.

Punjab Snapshot

• 12,807/13,236 GPs service-ready under BharatNet.
• 759 GP Bhawans, 4,300 computers, 500 CSCs approved under RGSA.

Digital Governance Ecosystem

eGramSwaraj

• Platform for planning, accounting, monitoring, online payments; integrated with PFMS for seamless fiscal management.

Meri Panchayat App

• Public access to plans, works, progress, strengthening transparency and social audits.

AuditOnline & Panchayat NIRNAY

• Online audit & Gram Sabha management tools; 13,272 GP audit reports in Punjab (2023–24) generated.

Governance Significance

Deepening Decentralisation

• Performance-linked incentives convert PRIs into outcome-oriented local governments, reinforcing subsidiarity and accountability.

SDG Localisation

• LSDGs make Panchayats frontline actors for achieving Agenda 2030 targets.

Digital India Convergence

• BharatNet + CSC 2.0 + e-Panchayat reduce rural digital divide and improve last-mile service delivery.

Challenges

Capacity Deficit

• Gaps in data literacy, planning skills, trained manpower affect effective utilisation.

Fiscal Dependence

• Limited own-source revenue, high dependence on grants-in-aid.

Inter-State Variations

• Panchayat is a State subject, causing uneven devolution and support.

Way Forward

Capacity Building

• Continuous training in digital governance, SDG planning, financial management.

Fiscal Empowerment

• Strengthen property tax, user charges, local revenue mobilisation.

Best Practice Replication

• Scale award-winning models via peer learning and MoPR platforms.