India’s Deep Ocean Mission and Samudrayaan

India’s aquanauts successfully completed deep-sea dives up to 5000 metres, marking the nation’s first human mission into the deep ocean under the Samudrayaan Project of the Deep Ocean Mission.

Background and Significance

• Launched in September 2021 by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Outlay: ?4077 crore over 5 years.
• Aim: Develop technologies for sustainable harnessing of ocean resources – minerals, biodiversity, and energy.
• Strategic Vision: Strengthen Blue Economy, marine industries, and India’s role as a maritime power.

Major Components of Deep Ocean Mission   

• Technological Innovations
  • Manned Submersible (MATSYA 6000): 3-person capacity, depth up to 6000 m, 12-hour mission capability, 96-hour emergency endurance.
  • Integrated Mining System: Extraction of polymetallic nodules from Central Indian Ocean.
  • Advanced welding & safety systems developed indigenously with ISRO support.
• Climate and Ocean Services
  • Development of an Ocean Climate Change Advisory Service for long-term modelling.
  • Enhances understanding of seasonal-decadal climate variability.
• Biodiversity Exploration
  • Bio-prospecting of deep-sea flora, fauna, microbes.
  • Research for marine fisheries and allied services.
• Resource Survey and Energy Development
  • Mapping of polymetallic nodules and hydrothermal sulphides.
  • Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) studies for renewable power and desalination.
• Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
  • Incubation hub for marine biotechnology and industrial products.
  • Promotes marine-based industries under Blue Economy.

Samudrayaan Project – India’s Deep-Sea Leap

• Core focus: Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) – MATSYA 6000.
• Built with titanium-alloy pressure hull and electron-beam welding technology.
• Successful dry & wet trials at 500 m, and manned dives at 5000 m in collaboration with France’s IFREMER (2025).
• Milestone: Over 100 kg cobalt-rich polymetallic nodules collected in the Andaman Sea.

Strategic and Scientific Relevance

• Blue Economy
  • India’s 7517 km coastline, 1382 islands, and 2.2 million sq. km EEZ provide vast opportunities.
  • Blue Economy projected to cross $100 billion contribution.
• Global Context
  • Only a handful of nations (USA, Russia, Japan, China, France) have deep-sea submersible technology.
  • Strengthens India’s position in International Seabed Authority (ISA)
• Sustainability Concerns
  • Need for balance between resource exploitation and conservation.
  • Mission aligns with UN SDG-14: Life Below Water.

Challenges

• Technological: Extreme pressure (600 bar), temperatures (-3°C), reliability of manned submersibles.
• Environmental: Risk to fragile deep-sea ecosystems, biodiversity loss.
• Regulatory: International Seabed Authority (ISA) yet to finalise commercial mining framework.
• Financial & Human Resources: High cost, requirement of skilled aquanauts, and maintenance.

Way Forward

• Strengthen indigenous R&D in deep-sea engineering and biotechnology.
• Enhance international collaborations (e.g., India–France cooperation on IFREMER).
• Establish a National Framework for Deep-Sea Mining Governance with environmental safeguards.
• Integrate Blue Economy strategy with coastal livelihood promotion, marine tourism, and sustainable fisheries.
• Continuous impact assessments to ensure compliance with UNCLOS and ISA guidelines