Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan to Visit Odisha on July 9

1. At a Glance

• Vice-President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan visits Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on July 9, 2026, to launch a national fisheries authorisation scheme and attend a science-institute convocation [1].
• Event ties together two examinable threads: constitutional office functions (VP's ceremonial/public duties) and India's Blue Economy / Deep Sea Fishing policy [1].
• Centrepiece: National Launch of Letters of Authorisation (LoAs) for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas, at OUAT, Bhubaneswar [1].
• Also launches the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document and attends NISER's 15th Convocation [1].

2. Why in the News

• PIB press release dated 8 July 2026 announcing the VP's one-day Odisha visit on 9 July 2026 [1].
• This is his second Odisha visit within 2026, following a maiden visit to Odisha/West Bengal on 23 January 2026 for Parakram Diwas [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• Budget 2025-26 announced an enabling framework for sustainable fisheries harnessing from India's EEZ and High Seas [3].
• Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025, notified 4 November 2025, under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 [3].
• 20 February 2026: National launch of the "Access Pass" (EEZ fishing authorisation) under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD), issued via the ReALCRaft portal, to 37 fishermen from 24 cooperatives across all 13 coastal states/UTs [3].
• 9 July 2026: extension of the LoA regime specifically to High Seas fishing, launched from Odisha along with a state-specific Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document [1].

4. Core Static Facts

Item	Detail
Visiting dignitary	Vice-President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan [1]
Visit date/place	9 July 2026, Bhubaneswar, Odisha [1]
Event 1	National Launch Programme — LoAs for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas, at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) [1]
Document launched	Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document [1]
Event 2	15th Graduation Ceremony, NISER, Khordha, Bhubaneswar [1]
Nodal ministry (fisheries policy)	Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying [3]
Enabling law	Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976; Rules notified 4 Nov 2025 [3]
Portal	ReALCRaft (Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft) [3]
Vessel scope (EEZ Access Pass, Feb 2026)	~64,000 mechanized/large motorized vessels (>24 m); traditional non-motorized craft exempt [3]
EEZ marine fisheries potential targeted	2.48 lakh tonnes, mainly Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep [3]
Release ID	PIB PRID 2282427 [1]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Economic: Formal high-seas/EEZ authorisation aims to boost fisher incomes via expanded catch, export-compliant certification (linked to MPEDA, Export Inspection Council), and cooperative-based aggregation [3].
• Administrative/Federal: Odisha-specific "Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document" shows Centre-State layering — national rules (MoFAHD) operationalised through a state mission document and state agricultural university (OUAT) as launch venue [1][3].
• Scientific/Institutional: Pairing of a fisheries-economy launch with NISER's convocation on the same VP tour underscores dual focus on applied blue-economy governance and basic science education infrastructure in Odisha [1].
• Governance/Ceremonial: Illustrates the VP's role beyond Rajya Sabha chairmanship — presiding over sectoral policy launches and academic convocations as head-of-state-adjacent representative functions [1].
• Environmental/Sustainability: "Sustainable Harnessing" framing signals regulated, licence-based access (not open exploitation) of high-seas fishery resources, distinguishing it from unregulated deep-sea fishing [3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Union Budget 2025-26: announced enabling framework for EEZ/High Seas sustainable fisheries [3].
• 4 November 2025: Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025 notified [3].
• 20 February 2026: National launch of EEZ "Access Pass" by MoFAHD via ReALCRaft [3].
• 23 January 2026: VP Radhakrishnan's maiden Odisha/West Bengal visit (Parakram Diwas, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose 129th birth anniversary) [2].
• 9 July 2026: VP's second Odisha visit — High Seas LoA launch + Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document + NISER convocation [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• VP C.P. Radhakrishnan visited Odisha on 9 July 2026 [1].
• Venue of the National Launch Programme for High Seas fishing LoAs: OUAT, Bhubaneswar [1].
• Document launched alongside: Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document [1].
• VP also attended the 15th Graduation Ceremony of NISER, Khordha, Bhubaneswar [1].
• NISER is located in Khordha district, Bhubaneswar, Odisha [1].
• Nodal ministry for fisheries LoA/Access Pass regime: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying [3].
• Legal basis of EEZ fisheries rules: Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 [3].
• Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025 notified on 4 November 2025 [3].
• Digital portal for fishing vessel registration/licensing: ReALCRaft [3].
• EEZ Access Pass (Feb 2026) applies to vessels exceeding 24 metres; traditional non-motorized craft exempted [3].
• Targeted EEZ marine fisheries potential: 2.48 lakh tonnes, concentrated around Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep [3].
• EEZ Access Pass framework traces to a Union Budget 2025-26 announcement [3].
• VP Radhakrishnan's maiden Odisha visit was on 23 January 2026 for Parakram Diwas [2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive — role and functions of the Vice-President of India; Statutory/regulatory bodies [1].
• GS-III: Infrastructure and economy — Blue Economy, fisheries sector, EEZ resource management, food processing/export linkages [3].
• Possible question stems:
• Discuss the significance of 'sustainable harnessing' frameworks for India's EEZ and High Seas fisheries in the context of the Blue Economy. (GS-III)
• Examine the ceremonial and functional roles performed by the Vice-President of India beyond presiding over the Rajya Sabha. (GS-II)
• What legal and institutional mechanisms govern India's deep-sea fishing activities? Discuss with reference to recent regulatory developments. (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Deep Ocean Mission (2021) — parent umbrella scheme for India's deep-sea resource exploration, distinct from fisheries LoA regime.
• Blue Economy Policy Framework of India — broader strategic context for fisheries, ports, shipping.
• Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 — foundational maritime jurisdiction law.
• PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) — flagship fisheries development scheme, compare institutional overlap with MoFAHD.
• MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority) — export certification linkage highlighted in Access Pass scheme.
• Role and powers of the Vice-President of India (Article 63-71) — constitutional basis for the office.
• NISER and autonomous science education institutes under DAE — for science-governance linkages.
• Coastal state fisheries cooperatives/FFPOs — organisational backbone for scheme delivery.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Do not confuse Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying with MoEFCC as the nodal ministry for fisheries regulation [3].
• Don't conflate the EEZ Access Pass (Feb 2026) with the High Seas LoA (July 2026) — related but distinct instruments under the same 2025 Rules; only the latter was launched during this Odisha visit [1][3].
• The enabling Act is the Maritime Zones Act, 1976, not the Merchant Shipping Act — aspirants often mix up maritime legislations.
• NISER is under the Department of Atomic Energy, not UGC/MHRD — commonly misattributed.
• This was the VP's second (not first) Odisha visit of 2026 — the January 2026 Parakram Diwas visit was the maiden one [2].