Content
- Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India
- First fully digitised National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 launched
Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India
Why in News ?
- Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India on October 30, 2025, at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
- Marks the eve of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) commemorating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
- Aim: To celebrate India’s royal heritage and inspire future generations with the values of unity, sacrifice, and integration.
Relevance
- GS 1: Indian Heritage and Culture – Art forms, architecture, integration of princely states.
- GS 2: Role of leadership (Sardar Patel) in national integration.
- GS 3: Tourism as an economic and cultural sector.
Basic Facts
- Project Cost: ₹367 crore
- Land Area: 5 acres near Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar
- No. of Galleries: 4 thematic galleries
- Lead Agency: Ministry of Culture, Government of India
- Theme: “Where Royal Legacies Come Alive”
Core Objectives
- To document, preserve, and display the heritage of India’s princely and royal states.
- To educate the public about India’s political integration post-1947.
- To honour the role of rulers who contributed to India’s unity.
- To serve as a centre of research, conservation, and public learning on India’s regal and democratic traditions.
Historical Context
- Pre-1947: Over 550 princely states and kingdoms existed alongside British India.
- Integration (1947–1949): Led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon, achieved peaceful accession through diplomacy and persuasion using the Instrument of Accession.
- Outcome: Political unification laid the foundation for a sovereign, democratic Republic of India.
- The museum symbolically continues Patel’s vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
Architectural and Design Features
- Landscape Integration: Architecture harmonised with natural surroundings – includes water bodies, fountains, gardens, and courtyards.
- Entry Experience: Modeled after royal gardens, reflecting grandeur and serenity.
- Learning Approach: Inspired by National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 – emphasizes experiential and interactive learning.
- Museum Café: Offers royal cuisines symbolizing India’s culinary diversity.
Thematic Gallery Overview
| Gallery | Theme / Focus | Purpose |
| Gallery 1: Orientation Gallery | Introduction to the idea of royalty through films, multimedia, and narratives | Provides historical context and sets the tone |
| Gallery 2: The Throne and the State | Displays royal families, governance systems, welfare measures, and relationship with subjects | Highlights the states’ contributions to culture and administration |
| Viewing Deck | Offers panoramic views of the Statue of Unity and Narmada River | Symbolic link between royal legacy and modern unity |
| Gallery 3: The Story of India’s Integration | Documents, photographs, and audio-visuals of the political integration process | Emphasizes the diplomacy-led unification post-Independence |
| Gallery 4: Hall of Unity | Symbols, insignias, and emblems of all princely states | Tribute to their sacrifices for national unity |
Educational and Cultural Role
- Acts as an institutional bridge between India’s monarchical past and democratic present.
- Promotes historical literacy among youth using immersive technology (AR/VR, digital archives).
- Encourages academic research on princely states’ governance, culture, and integration.
- Enhances heritage tourism in the Statue of Unity region.
Governance & Policy Alignment
- Linked Initiatives:
- Rashtriya Ekta Diwas – celebrates national unity and Patel’s legacy.
- Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – aligns with 75+ years of India’s independence.
- NEP 2020 – integrates cultural learning with modern pedagogy.
- Institutional Synergy: Complements National Museum, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Bharat Mandapam as national heritage hubs.
Broader Significance
- Cultural Diplomacy: Portrays India’s royal diversity as an element of soft power.
- Tourism Impact: Expected to significantly boost visitorship at the Statue of Unity, already India’s top domestic tourist site.
- National Integration Symbol: Reinforces unity in diversity by connecting different royal lineages under one narrative.
- Digital Preservation: Ensures archival protection of manuscripts, textiles, artefacts, and regalia.
Conclusion
- The Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India embodies the fusion of heritage and modernity.
- Serves as a living tribute to India’s journey from fragmented princely states to a united democracy.
- Strengthens Ekta Nagar’s position as a national hub for unity, culture, and legacy tourism.
- Reflects India’s evolving approach to inclusive nation-building through cultural remembrance.
First fully digitised National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 launched
Why in News ?
- Launched: October 31, 2025, at ICAR–CMFRI, Kochi, Kerala.
- Launched by: Shri George Kurian, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
- Significance: Marks the first fully digitised edition of India’s Marine Fisheries Census — a landmark shift towards data-driven fisheries governance.
- Tagline: “Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries.”
- Coverage: Over 1.2 million fisher households in 4,000 marine fishing villages across 9 coastal states and 4 UTs during a 45-day enumeration (Nov 3–Dec 18, 2025).
Relevance
- GS 3: Economy (Blue Economy, Fisheries Sector, Digital Governance).
- GS 2: Governance (e-Governance, Data-driven policymaking).
- GS 1: Geography (Coastal livelihoods, socio-economic census).
Background & Evolution
- Initiated: First conducted in 1973 by ICAR-CMFRI.
- Periodic Exercise: Conducted every 5 years to collect data on the socio-economic and livelihood profile of marine fishers.
- Past Editions: 2005, 2010, 2016 (manual/semi-digital).
- 2025 Edition:
- First fully digitised census.
- First to use mobile-based, geo-tagged, real-time data collection tools.
- Integrated with NFDP (National Fisheries Digital Platform) for seamless registration and governance.
Implementing Agencies
| Agency | Role |
| Department of Fisheries (DoF), MoFAHD | Lead coordinating body under PMMSY. |
| ICAR – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) | Nodal scientific agency; developed digital tools and oversees data collection. |
| Fishery Survey of India (FSI) | Operational partner; assists with marine field logistics and technical support. |
| State Fisheries Departments & Local Bodies | Facilitate enumeration and fisher registration. |
Technological Innovation
- First Fully Digital Marine Census: Enables real-time data capture, validation, and monitoring.
- Two Mobile Applications:
- VyAS Bharat: Field-level data collection and geo-referencing.
- VyAS Sutra: Real-time central monitoring, verification, and analytics.
- Benefits:
- Eliminates manual delays and errors.
- Enhances transparency, speed, and accuracy.
- Enables data-driven policy formulation.
- Live Monitoring: Real-time display of data from Kerala and Maharashtra during launch demonstrated centralised dashboard supervision.
Scope & Coverage
- Duration: 45 days (Nov 3–Dec 18, 2025).
- Geographical Reach: 9 coastal states + 4 UTs (including Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu).
- Target Coverage:
- 1.2 million fisher households
- 4,000 marine fishing villages
- Thousands of trained enumerators deployed nationwide.
Integration with NFDP & PM-MKSSY
- NFDP (National Fisheries Digital Platform):
- A unified national database of fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers.
- Mandatory registration for availing government benefits.
- PM–Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM–MKSSY):
- Scheme providing financial and livelihood support to registered beneficiaries.
- NFDP registration is a precondition for benefits.
- Census Role: Ensures automatic digital linkage between enumeration data and NFDP profiles for policy targeting.
Institutional Alignment
- Parent Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) – launched in 2020 to modernize fisheries and enhance income.
- Alignment with Digital India Mission: Promotes e-governance and real-time decision-making in fisheries sector.
- Supports:
- Blue Economy Vision 2047
- Marine Spatial Planning
- Coastal Community Resilience Initiatives
Policy Relevance & Significance
- Data Backbone for Fisheries Management:
- Provides reliable socio-economic and demographic data of fishing communities.
- Enables evidence-based allocation of subsidies, insurance, welfare, and infrastructure support.
- Improves Safety & Sustainability:
- Helps identify active fishermen for transponder installation and turtle excluder device (TED) distribution.
- Supports Climate and Livelihood Planning:
- Assists in vulnerability mapping of coastal populations to climate change.
- Supports marine ecosystem management and policy reforms.
- Facilitates Financial Inclusion:
- Digital profiles linked with government benefit platforms and financial services.
Stakeholders Involved
- Union Government: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
- Research Institutions: ICAR-CMFRI, CIFT, FSI.
Government’s Broader Initiatives for Marine Fisheries
- Transponder Installation: For real-time vessel tracking and safety.
- Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs): Distributed free to promote sustainable fishing and biodiversity protection.
- Capacity Building: Training of enumerators and local officers for digital data collection.
- Fisher Welfare: Inclusion under PMMSY and PM-MKSSY for financial, insurance, and livelihood support.
Key Expected Outcomes
- Creation of nationwide digital fisheries database integrating marine socio-economic, vessel, and ecological data.
- Strengthened governance transparency and policy responsiveness.
- Improved planning for fisheries infrastructure, insurance, subsidies, and sustainability.
- Real-time analytics enabling faster decision-making at central and state levels.
- Contribution to India’s goal of achieving “Sustainable Blue Economy by 2047.”
Challenges Ahead
- Ensuring 100% NFDP registration across fragmented fishing communities.
- Addressing digital literacy gaps among fishers and field staff.
- Maintaining data privacy, cybersecurity, and quality assurance.
- Integrating marine census data with inland fisheries datasets for holistic policy framing.
Conclusion
- MFC 2025 marks a paradigm shift in India’s fisheries governance — from manual enumeration to digitised, real-time, and transparent data systems.
- Strengthens India’s commitment to a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable fisheries sector.
- Serves as a vital instrument for marine livelihood planning, coastal development, and blue economy growth.
- Reinforces India’s transformation toward “Smart Fisheries, Smart Governance.”
