The Government of India has announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 the integrated development of fisheries and aquaculture across 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars nationwide. This initiative aims to harness the untapped fisheries potential of these water bodies while strengthening the livelihoods of fishermen and engaging women self-help groups, fisheries cooperatives, and Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) in the development process.
The implementation will be based on Detailed Project Reports submitted by States and Union Territories, with selection criteria including perennial water availability and fisheries potential. As of the announcement, 351 reservoirs across 26 states have been identified for development, with Jharkhand having the highest allocation (41 reservoirs), followed by Maharashtra (34), Chhattisgarh (27), Telangana (27), Kerala (28), and Odisha (25). Other significant allocations include Madhya Pradesh (22), Uttar Pradesh (19), Rajasthan (15), Andhra Pradesh (13), Arunachal Pradesh (12), Bihar (12), and Gujarat (12).
Additionally, 100 Amrit Sarovars across 21 states have been identified for fisheries development, with Uttar Pradesh having the highest allocation (12 Amrit Sarovars), followed by Maharashtra (6), Telangana (6), Tamilnadu (6), and Rajasthan (5). Multiple states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Nagaland, Tripura, Assam, and others have received 5 allocations each.
The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, is promoting the formation of new FFPOs, women-led groups, and fisheries cooperatives, as well as supporting existing ones in the selected water bodies. The investment for implementation will be determined based on the Detailed Project Reports from the states and UTs.