Policy Update
Kumar Ankit
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
– Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Introduction
For any nation, the ocean’s depths are a treasure trove. The ocean is crucial for capturing carbon and regulating our climate, and its treasures—like polymetallic nodules, gas hydrates, and rare earth elements—are becoming increasingly vital for cutting-edge technologies, including electronics and renewable energy. By exploring responsibly, we can lessen our reliance on land-based mining and secure our future energy needs. Enhancing earthquake and tsunami early warning systems, which significantly increases our emergency preparedness, also depends on deep ocean exploration. The UN has designated the decade 2021–2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development in recognition of the significance of the oceans for sustainability.
India’s maritime position is distinct. Given that the oceans encircle all three of India’s sides and that about 30% of its population lives near the coast, the ocean plays a significant role in the country’s economy by sustaining blue trade, tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture. Beyond these uses, the depths of the seas have much more to offer. India’s Exclusive Economic Zone covers an area of 2.3 million square kilometres. Along its 11,098.81 km of coastline, there are 1389 islands, nine coastal states, and four union territories. In addition, India has been allotted a site of 75,000 sq. km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) by the United Nations International Seabed Authority (ISA) in 2002 for the exploration and exploitation of polymetallic nodules (PMN). According to preliminary estimates, there are 380 million metric tonnes (MMT) of polymetallic nodules—which include copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese—available for PMN exploration in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) within a 75,000 square kilometre area, worth around 110 billion US dollars.
India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)—an ambitious project backed by the Union Cabinet on June 16, 2021—aims to search for and wisely tap the sea’s hidden wealth for growth, research, and planet-friendly goals. With a ₹4,077 crore budget over five years (2021–2026), the programme is led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, together with partners such as ISRO, the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, the National Institute of Ocean Technology, and other research bodies. The Deep Ocean Mission is structured in two phases—Phase I (2021–2024) focused on technology development, and Phase II (2024–2026) on demonstration and deployment. Through DOM, India signals its desire to take a global lead in the blue economy whilst guarding ocean health.
Major Objectives of the Deep Ocean Mission
- To mitigate and adapt to the issues arising from long term changes in the ocean due to climate change.
- To develop technologies for deep-sea missions of both living (biodiversity) and non-living (minerals) resources.
- To develop underwater vehicles and underwater robotics.
- To provide ocean climate change advisory services.
- To develop and promote technological innovations and conservation methods for sustainable use of marine bio-resources.
- To develop offshore based desalination techniques.
- To develop renewable energy generation techniques.
- To provide clean drinking water and explore the avenues of desalination of water as well as extracting minerals from the ocean belt.
Source: Press Information Bureau—India’s Deep Ocean Mission
Functionality and the developments
- SAMUDRAYAAN—Development of Manned Submersible—MATSYA 6000
The Matsya 6000, India’s first domestically built manned submersible, is a key component of the DOM. Named after Lord Vishnu’s avatar, Matsya is designed for continuous operations at 6,000 m depth for up to 12 hours with an emergency endurance of up to 96 hours for conducting deep water observation and exploration. It is expected to carry three people to the ocean floor and operate at a depth of 6,000 metres. This submersible will make it easier to conduct scientific research in the abyssal zone and explore deep-sea ecosystems and minerals. An integrated mining system will also be developed for the PMN extraction from 6000 m depth in the central Indian Ocean. The full deep-sea trials of the submersible have been postponed until late 2025 in order to improve its navigation, structural integrity, and life-support systems. It successfully finished its shallow-water trials in the Bay of Bengal in 2024. By the end of 2026, operational deployment is now anticipated. With its launch, India will become the sixth country to have crewed an under-sea expedition only after the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China.
- Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) Mining System
India has secured rights of exploration for an area of 75,000 sq. km located in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, granted by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is working on developing new technology to mine polymetallic nodules that contain valuable metals such as manganese, cobalt, copper, and nickel, which are essential for production in the renewable energy and electronics industries. The NIOT has conducted successful deep-sea locomotion trials using ‘Varaha,’ an underwater mining system, at a depth of 5,270 meters in the CIOB. Despite testing the prototype, the start of actual mining operations has been postponed past the 2024–2025 timeframe. Difficulties like finding the right technology and getting environmental clearances have contributed to the delay. Before 2027, commercial activity is not likely to commence.
- Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services (OCCAS)
Since its launch in mid-2023, the Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services (OCCAS) system has provided real-time ocean forecasting, climate prediction, tsunami warnings, and data to support coastal management and sustainable fisheries. It is already helping India’s disaster response agencies, coastal infrastructure planning, and fishing community.
- Discovery of Hydrothermal Vents and Biodiversity Exploration
In 2024, India captured the first images of active hydrothermal vents in the Central Indian Ocean at the depth of 4500 m. This discovery pinpoints the presence of distinct geological and biological phenomena and adds to the ever-expanding reservoir of our scientific understanding of the extreme marine environment. The move has opened up avenues in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. The contemporary research is taking a biodiversity cataloguing approach to possibly create opportunities for bioprospecting.
- Offshore Desalination Plant and Ocean Energy Development
The Deep Ocean Mission envisions the establishment of an offshore desalination plant based on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology. This facility is likely to supply potable water to the Lakshadweep Islands. The OTEC plant is designed to produce 165 kW of electricity and 1.00.000 litres of fresh water per day. Owing to financial, technological, and logistical barriers, the initial 2025 completion target has been rescheduled to 2026.
- Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology (AMSOB)
The mandate of AMSOB is to conduct research in ocean biology, foster interdisciplinary education and training, and serve as a hub for national and international research and academic collaborations. This hub-and-spokes model research station is being established at Nemmeli, Tamil Nadu. The AMSOB has been under construction since 2023 and is likely to be commissioned by December 2025. It is to serve as a hub for advanced marine biological research, focusing on deep-sea bio-resources, genetic exploration, and sustainable marine biotechnology.
Financing
The Deep Ocean Mission is a central sector scheme. Out of the total estimated cost of ₹4,077 crore, ₹2,823.4 crore is allocated for the first phase (2021–2024), while the remaining amount will be used for the second phase. However, the actual cost incurred during the first phase was ₹2857.35 cr, and the sanctioned cost for the second phase is estimated to be ₹1311.15 cr, amounting to ₹4168.50 cr. The figure below showcases the year-wise and component-wise estimates of the scheme (₹ in crores):
Source: Press Information Bureau on the MoES’s Deep Ocean Mission
Emerging Challenges
While the Deep Ocean Mission has achieved significant milestones, it still faces important operational delays and challenges. The Matsya 6000 submersible is still awaiting the completion of qualification testing, as unresolved engineering issues remain regarding structural integrity, life-support endurance, and navigation control at extreme depths. The broader commercial rollout of the PMN mining project has been postponed until after 2027 due to prototype limitations and delays in obtaining environmental clearances. However, the offshore desalination plant has avoided significant cost overruns and engineering challenges related to deployment on remote islands. Two significant challenges are India’s reliance on imported high-quality materials, like titanium alloys, for submersible construction and a shortage of trained personnel for deep-sea operations. International laws, particularly those negotiated under the UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, cast doubt on future commercial seabed mining operations. Besides, environmental worries about the ecological impacts of deep-sea mining may cause delays or restrictions on India’s mining ambitions. Budgetary restrictions and delays in the release of authorised funds have also limited the pace of technological testing and the extent to which infrastructures are evolving under the various DOM components.
Conclusion
India’s Deep Ocean Mission has the capacity to transform marine technology, critical mineral security, and the blue economy, but its success will require overcoming challenges such as (a) the technological barriers that currently exist; (b) the reliance on imported materials; and (c) protecting the marine environment while complying with new international framework(s) like the BBNJ Treaty. There is also an apparent need for a dedicated national programme for building capacity in deep-sea engineering, marine biology, and subsea robotics to build up a qualified domestic workforce. Equally, India must continue to fast-track public-private partnerships to facilitate innovations in ocean energy and biotechnology. In addition, proactive diplomacy will be required to shape international seabed governance standards while preserving Indian exploratory rights. When push comes to shove, economic aspirations must be carefully balanced with ecological stewardship to ensure the long-term success of the mission.
India’s proactive stance in ocean governance and sustainable technology development will ultimately determine whether its Deep Ocean Mission becomes a model for the world or remains a cautious experiment.
References
- Press Information Bureau. (2021, June 16). Deep Ocean Mission: India’s ambitious initiative to explore ocean resources. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1704840
- Press Information Bureau. (2021, November 10). Cabinet approves Deep Ocean Mission to boost India’s blue economy initiatives. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1767579
- Press Information Bureau. (2022, February 2). Deep Ocean Mission paves way for sustainable ocean resource utilization. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1797250
- Press Information Bureau. (2022, April). India’s Deep Ocean Mission. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/apr/doc202242649701.pdf
- Press Information Bureau. (2024, February 12). India’s Deep Ocean Mission achieves a new milestone in technology demonstration. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2095517
- Press Information Bureau. (2024, March 18). India’s Deep Ocean Mission progresses with key developments. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2102743
- Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology. (n.d.). Deep Ocean Mission (DOM). https://www.cmlre.gov.in/research-programs/deep-ocean-mission-dom
- The Hindu. (2023, October 27). Deep Ocean Mission: Matsya 6000, seabed mining, and India’s blue economy ambitions. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/deep-ocean-mission-matsya6000-seabed-mining-blue-economy/article67457379.ece
- India Today. (2024). Samudrayaan Mission: Matsya 6000 and India’s Deep Ocean Exploration. https://www.indiatoday.in/interactive/immersive/samudrayaan-mission-matsya-6000-india-deep-ocean-exploration#google_vignette
- India Today. (2025, June 19). Samudrayaan: NIOT to conduct controlled water trials, crew sphere getting ready. https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/science/samudrayaan/story/samudrayaan-niot-to-conduct-controlled-water-trials-crew-sphere-getting-ready-2743137-2025-06-19
- Financial Express. (2024, April 5). India’s Deep Ocean Mission achieves major success with first-ever image of active hydrothermal vent at 4500 metres: Here’s all you need to know. https://www.financialexpress.com/life/science-indias-deep-ocean-mission-achieves-major-success-with-first-ever-image-of-active-hydrothermal-vent-at-4500-metres-heres-all-you-need-to-know-3700544/
- The Economic Times. (2024, February 16). India’s first manned deep ocean mission at 6000-m depth to be launched by 2026-end: NIOT. https://m.economictimes.com/news/science/indias-first-manned-deep-ocean-mission-at-6000-m-depth-to-be-launched-by-2026-end-niot/articleshow/121143759.cms
About the Author
Kumar Ankit is a Research Intern at IMPRI, New Delhi, and has previously interned for the National Maritime Foundation and IISPPR. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Political Science from Jamia Millia Islamia University and has qualified for UGC-NET in Politics including International Relations/International Studies. He holds postgraduate diplomas in International Law & Diplomacy from the Indian Society of International Law and in Iranology from Jamia Millia Islamia. His interests include International Law, International Relations, Maritime Geopolitics, and the Geopolitics of Rare Earth and Critical Minerals.
Acknowledgement
The author extends his sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms Aasthaba Jadeja for their invaluable guidance throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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