India’s Deep Ocean Mission, launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on September 7, 2021, aims to develop technologies for exploring and sustainably utilising the deep ocean’s living and non-living wealth.
With an overall investment of ₹4,077 crore spread across five years, this mission isn’t a one-time endeavour. It will unfold in phases and is designed as a comprehensive national project, driving forward India’s Blue Economy, which encompasses all marine-based industries, including fishing, shipping, biotechnology, and tourism.
According to experts, exploring the ocean depths could provide solutions to global challenges such as climate change. Considering this, the United Nations (UN) named the 2021-2030 decade as the ‘Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’.
The government has placed Blue Economy among the ten core growth dimensions, as India’s unique geography, with 7,517 km of coastline, nine coastal states, and 1,382 islands, gives it an edge in the sector.
The MoES leads this multi-agency effort, steering India toward the goal of tapping into ocean resources and boosting the country’s maritime economy to surpass ₹100 billion. It’s about harnessing deep-sea potential to achieve sustainable prosperity.
Mission Components
India is committed to uncovering the mysteries of the ocean depths through a series of ambitious initiatives.
Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible: India is building a manned submersible to take three people down to 6,000 metres in the ocean.
Alongside, an Integrated Mining System will be developed to extract polymetallic nodules from the deep sea in the Central Indian Ocean. This project is key to advancing India’s Blue Economy, especially in deep-sea mining and energy.
Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: An observations and model suite will be developed to study and forecast key climate variables from seasonal to decadal scales. This proof-of-concept initiative aims to enhance understanding of climate trends and contribute to the Blue Economy, with focus on promoting coastal tourism.
Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity: The core focus is on bio-prospecting deep-sea flora, fauna, and microbes, alongside research into the sustainable use of deep-sea biological resources. This initiative will advance the Blue Economy priority area of marine fisheries and allied services.
Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration: This initiative focuses on identifying multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide sites along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges and supports deep-sea resource exploration under the Blue Economy.
Energy and freshwater from the Ocean: This proof-of-concept proposes studies and engineering design for an offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant, supporting the Blue Economy focus on offshore energy development.
Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology: This component focuses on building talent and innovation in ocean biology and engineering, transforming research into industrial products via on-site incubators.
Deep Ocean Mission: Story Till Now
India has made notable advancements in developing indigenous deep-sea technologies, including vehicles and pressure-resistant materials, with successful trials already in progress.
In December 2022, the Ocean Mineral Explorer (OMe 6000), an autonomous vehicle, explored mineral-rich zones at a depth of 5,271 meters in the Central Indian Ocean Basin Polymetallic Manganese Nodule (PMN) site.
The Deep Ocean Mission, with its pioneering Samudrayaan Project, an initiative to work on its first component of deep-sea exploration through a manned submersible, marks a transformative leap in India’s scientific and strategic capabilities.
By venturing into the depths of the ocean, India is not only unlocking vast reserves of minerals, biodiversity, and energy, but also positioning itself among the few nations with advanced deep-sea exploration technology.
The development of a manned submersible reflects India’s growing expertise in marine engineering and innovation. This initiative supports key pillars of the Blue Economy, fosters indigenous technology, boosts marine-based industries, and creates new opportunities for research, enterprise, and employment.
The Deep Ocean Mission is not just a dive into the unknown – it’s a bold stride toward a resilient, resource-rich, and future-ready India.