Archive · 31 Oct 2025
India Launches First Fully Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025
India has started a big count of all the families who make a living from fishing in the sea.
This is the first time they are doing it completely using mobile phones and apps, making it a digital survey.
Special apps called VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra are being used to record information about the fishing families, their villages, and their work.
This data will help the government understand them better and provide help, especially through a scheme called PM-MKSSY.
To get help from this scheme, fishermen need to register on a special online platform.
The survey will take about 45 days and will cover many coastal areas.
This digital approach will make collecting and checking information faster and more accurate than ever before.
India has launched the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025, its first fully digitized census for marine fisher households.
The census is being conducted using two mobile applications, VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra, developed by ICAR-CMFRI for real-time data collection and monitoring.
Fishermen and fish workers are urged to register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) to be eligible for benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
The 45-day nationwide enumeration will cover over 1.2 million fisher households across nine coastal states and four union territories.
The digital census aims to improve fisheries governance through accurate, transparent, and efficient data collection, reducing processing time and enhancing government interventions.
- Who
- Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian, and enumerators/field staff.
- What
- Launched the household enumeration phase of the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025, marking the first fully digitised data collection in Indian fisheries history, utilizing mobile applications VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra.
- When
- Launched on October 31, 2025. Enumeration period is from November 3 to December 18, 2025.
- Where
- Launched in Kochi at ICAR-CMFRI, covering nine coastal states and four union territories across India.
- Why
- To achieve digital and data-driven fisheries governance, ensure registration of fishermen on the National Fisheries Digital Platform for accessing benefits under PM-MKSSY, improve accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in data collection, and enhance government interventions in the marine fisheries sector.
- Event
- National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 Launch and Household Enumeration Phase
- Date Launched
- October 31, 2025
- Location of Launch
- ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi
- Enumeration Period
- November 3 to December 18 (45 days)
- Coverage
- Over 1.2 million fisher households across 4,000 marine fishing villages in nine coastal states and four union territories.
- Technology Used
- VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra mobile applications for real-time data collection, geo-referencing, and instant verification.
- Associated Program
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)
