India's fisheries sector has witnessed transformational growth over the past decade, with the central government investing ₹39,272 crore since 2015 to develop the sector. This investment has been channelled through flagship schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Blue Revolution scheme, and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

The outcomes have been significant: India's fish production has grown by over 106% — from 95 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to approximately 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, making India the world's second-largest fish producer after China. Seafood exports have nearly doubled during this period, reaching ₹62,408 crore in 2024-25 compared to previous lows, reflecting the sector's growing integration with global Blue Economy value chains.

The PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020 with an outlay of ₹20,050 crore, is the country's flagship fisheries development scheme aimed at sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector to increase fish production, improve infrastructure, modernise the value chain, and enhance fishers' welfare. PMMSY also aims at creating 55 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.

The Blue Economy framework positions fisheries as a core component of India's ocean-based sustainable development strategy. Key dimensions include deep-sea fishing, mariculture, seaweed cultivation, and coastal zone management. India's 8,118-km coastline, 2.4 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and extensive inland water resources (rivers, reservoirs, ponds) provide a vast natural endowment for the sector.

For Rajasthan, while being a landlocked state, inland fisheries in the Chambal, Mahi, and Banas river systems and reservoirs like Rana Pratap Sagar, Mahi Bajaj Sagar, and Bisalpur contribute meaningfully to the state's rural economy and protein security.