Source: TH
Context
India announced on 20 July 2026 that it has joined the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) after depositing its Instrument of Acceptance — becoming the 123rd WTO member to do so. The move balances India’s commitment to sustainable fisheries with protection of its traditional and small-scale fishers.
About the Development
India’s Accession
- Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal formally handed over India’s Instrument of Acceptance to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 20 July 2026.
- India = 123rd member to accept the agreement.
About the Agreement (AFS)
- Adopted by consensus at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), Geneva, June 2022 (part of the “Geneva Package”).
- The first multilateral WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective, and only the second new multilateral agreement since WTO’s founding in 1995 (after the Trade Facilitation Agreement).
- Entered into force on 15 September 2025, after two-thirds of members (111) ratified.
- Mandated by SDG Target 14.6 (eliminate subsidies contributing to overfishing/IUU fishing).
What It Covers / Prohibits
- Prohibits subsidies to: Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing; fishing of overfished stocks; and fishing on the unregulated high seas.
- Scope: marine wild capture fishing and fishing-related activities at sea.
- Excluded: aquaculture and inland fisheries remain outside the agreement’s scope — significant for India, whose sector is largely small-scale/inland.
Key Concepts
- WTO (World Trade Organization): Geneva-based body (est. 1995, replaced GATT) that sets and enforces global trade rules; DG is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.Ministerial Conference: The WTO’s top decision-making body, meeting roughly every two years (MC12 = Geneva 2022; MC13 = Abu Dhabi 2024).
- Blue Economy: Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth while preserving ocean health.
- PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana): India’s flagship scheme (2020) for sustainable, inclusive fisheries development.
Exam Relevance
- NABARD Grade A/B: Highly relevant — fisheries (allied ARD sector), PMMSY, blue economy, sustainable fisheries, small-fisher livelihoods; strong core-syllabus overlap.
