Blue Revolution and the Emerging Blue Economy in Telangana
Evaluating Policy Outcomes and Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Mallikarjuna Naik Vadithe., Prof. B. Sudhakar Reddy
Department of Economics, CESS, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Received: 10 November 2025; Accepted: 20 November 2025; Published: 04 December 2025
ABSTRACT
The Blue Revolution in India, launched through the Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries
(2015–2020) and expanded under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY, 2020–present), has
reshaped inland aquaculture as a driver of rural income, food security, and ecological stewardship. Telangana,
though a landlocked state, is endowed with extensive inland water resources and a vibrant community of fishers
and cooperatives. This study evaluates the policy outcomes and institutional effectiveness of the Blue Revolution
and emerging Blue Economy in Telangana over the decade 2014–2024. Using mixed-method evaluation
grounded in official data, secondary literature, and institutional mapping, the study traces how policy design,
resource mobilization, and convergence strategies between the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB),
the Department of Fisheries (DoF), and state-level agencies have impacted production, employment, gender
equity, and environmental sustainability. Findings reveal that fish production rose from 2.68 lakh tons in 2014–
15 to over 4.56 lakh tons by 2024, with an estimated value exceeding ₹7,000 crore (NFDB, 2021; Department
of Fisheries, 2024). The cooperative base has expanded to include nearly 3 lakh members, and welfare coverage
has been enhanced through insurance and credit support. However, persistent gaps exist in cold chain density,
traceability, ecological monitoring, and skill development. The paper concludes that Telangana’s inland fisheries
model, anchored in participatory governance and cross-sectoral convergence, offers a replicable pathway toward
a sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy in India.
Keywords: Blue Revolution, Blue Economy, Inland Fisheries, Telangana, PMMSY, NFDB, Mission Kakatiya,
IFDS
INTRODUCTION
Background
The concept of the “Blue Revolution” emerged in India as a policy metaphor for the rapid, sustainable, and
inclusive growth of fisheries and aquaculture. It was first articulated in the mid-2010s with the launch of the
Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries scheme by the Department of Animal Husbandry,
Dairying, and Fisheries, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Government of India, 2015).
The initiative aimed to increase fish production and productivity, strengthen the value chain, and improve post-
harvest infrastructure and market access. Subsequently, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),
launched in 2020, consolidated the Blue Revolution framework into a long-term mission for “sustainable and
responsible development of the fisheries sector” (Department of Fisheries, 2020).
While the Blue Revolution originally encompassed marine and coastal ecosystems, its inland dimension has
become particularly significant for states like Telangana, which possess extensive networks of reservoirs, tanks,
and rivers. Telangana’s geographical profile includes more than 77 large, medium, and minor reservoirs and over
24,000 village tanks, covering a water spread area of approximately 5.72 lakh hectares (Department of Fisheries,
2024). These inland resources support a large population of traditional and neo-fishers, estimated at 27.14 lakh
individuals organized into nearly 4,000 cooperative societies. The institutional structure supporting this sector is
distinctive: the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), headquartered in Hyderabad since 2006,
functions as both a policy think tank and an implementation hub for central and state schemes (NFDB, 2021).
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