India's Deep-Sea Exploration Ambitions and Funding Initiatives
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced India's progress toward launching its first human deep-sea mission to depths of 5,000-6,000 metres by 2028 using the indigenous Matsya submersible capable of carrying three aquanauts. This mission represents a significant milestone in India's indigenous deep-ocean exploration program and reflects the strategic priority given to ocean resources, as evidenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated references to the Deep Ocean Mission in Independence Day addresses.
The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai has already developed capabilities to conduct trials at 5,000-6,000 metre depths in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, utilizing the Ocean Mineral Explorer for high-resolution exploration of hydrothermal sulphide deposits, several of which have been identified. India is pursuing a remarkable convergence of deep-sea and space exploration, with nearly simultaneous deep-sea and space missions planned, supported by space-based capabilities including dedicated satellites for ocean color, sea-surface temperature, and wind vector observations.
Integrated Scientific Approach and Economic Vision
The government is implementing a mission-mode framework that brings together multiple departments and institutions, demonstrating growing convergence of ocean sciences, space technology, nuclear science, geology, electronics, and robotics. Nuclear technology contributes to seawater desalination through plants at Kalpakkam (with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre support) and low-temperature facilities in Lakshadweep developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Deep ocean resources are identified as a major source of economic value addition for achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, with significant potential lying in unexplored or underexplored resources. The government has established the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund with a 50:50 equity-based approach to accelerate private-sector participation in emerging research areas through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
International Cooperation and Environmental Initiatives
Dr. Singh emphasized the principle of 'One Ocean, Shared Knowledge and Equitable Prosperity' to guide Indo-Pacific cooperation, noting that oceans transcend political boundaries and issues like marine pollution and temperature changes require collective scientific efforts. Key priorities include closing observational gaps, improving extreme event forecasting, establishing regional climate services partnerships, promoting accessible ocean technologies, advancing deep-ocean research, and strengthening conservation efforts.
India has initiated an annual ocean-cleanliness campaign involving coastal district administrations, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, NGOs, and other stakeholders, recognizing that marine pollution affects the entire region. The Deep Ocean Mission is exploring renewable energy generation possibilities from oceans including solar panels, ocean winds, and temperature/energy gradients, while nuclear-powered vessels remain under consideration with India's target of achieving 100 GW nuclear energy capacity by 2047 and recent opening of the nuclear sector to private participation under the SHANTI Act.