Description

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Context

India Deep Ocean Mission as well as development of Matsya 6000 highlight growing importance of deep-sea technology for resource exploration, national security & global maritime competition.

Key Highlights

Deep Ocean Mission:

Launched in 2018 under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Aimed at exploring deep-sea resources enhancing maritime security & advancing oceanic research.

Supports India blue economy by tapping into deep sea minerals, gas hydrates & marine biodiversity.

Matsya-6000 Submersible:

Matsya-6000 is manned deep sea submersible capable of diving up to 6,000 meters (6 km) below sea level.

Developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai under Samudrayaan Mission.

Successfully completed wet testing as well as is set for deployment later in 2025.

Designed to carry three crew members for deep sea exploration.

Key Features:

Titanium alloy sphere to withstand extreme deep sea pressure (600 times atmospheric pressure).

Equipped with life support for 12 hours extendable up to 96 hours in case of emergency.

Fitted with robotic arms for deep sea mineral extraction as well as sample collection.

Importance of Deep Sea Technology:

Deep oceans hold vast deposits of polymetallic nodules, rare earth elements, gas hydrates & oil reserves.

Improves underwater domain awareness, critical for protecting undersea cables, pipelines & energy infrastructure.

Helps study marine biodiversity, deep-sea ecosystems & climate change impact.

Places India among elite nations with deep-sea capabilities joining USA, China, France, Russia, Japan, South Korea.

Geopolitical & Security Implications:

China operates world largest fleet of submersibles including underwater drones & deep sea mining vehicles.

China recent unveiling of deep-sea cable-cutting device raises concerns over underwater sabotage as well as geopolitical tensions.

India ability to secure undersea cables & infrastructures is vital for safeguarding its digital economy as well as communication networks.

The development of dual-use technology is critical with applications for both civilian & defense purposes.

Challenges in Deep-Sea Exploration:

Pressure increases one atmosphere (atm) every 10 meters making deep sea operations highly complex.

Requires advancements in submersibles, robotics, sensors & ultra-low frequency communication.

Developing as well as maintaining deep sea equipment is expensive & requires sustained financial investment.

India needs to train experts in oceanography, marine engineering & deep sea navigation.

Way Forward for India:

Upgrading Department of Ocean Development to a full fledged Ministry.

Accelerating research & development in deep-sea exploration technologies.

Strengthening collaboration with global leaders in deep-sea research like France, Japan, US.

Expanding investment in undersea infrastructure including submarine communication networks & deep sea mining projects.

Enhancing maritime security mechanisms to counter potential threats from adversarial nations.

Executing a 10-year strategic plan with dedicated funding & policy reforms.

India Deep Ocean Mission

Component	Details
Executing Agency	Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
Launch Year	2018
Budget Allocation	₹4,077 crore (Approved for 5 years)
Key Focus Areas	Deep-sea mining, underwater robotics, marine biodiversity, blue economy, ocean climate studies, underwater domain awareness
Polymetallic Nodule Exploration	Targeted in Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB), covering 75,000 sq. km, rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel & copper
Technologies Being Developed	Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Deep-sea mining robots, Advanced submersibles, Ocean climate monitoring systems
Marine Biodiversity Studies	Exploration of deep-sea organisms & their potential applications in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology & ecosystem conservation
Underwater Domain Awareness	Development of ocean surveillance technologies for national security & strategic interests
Deep-Sea Energy Research	Studying gas hydrates, hydrothermal vents & deep-sea oil reserves for energy security
Collaboration & Partnerships	ISRO, DRDO, NIOT, CSIR, IITs & international collaborations with Japan, France & Norway

Indian Submersibles & Underwater Vehicles

Submersible / AUV Name	Type	Depth Capability	Purpose	Current Status
Matsya-6000	Manned Submersible	6,000 meters	Deep-sea exploration, mineral extraction, biodiversity study	Wet testing completed, launch in 2025
Sagar Nidhi	Research Vessel	Operates at 3,000 meters	Ocean research, deployment of AUVs & ROVs	Active
Samudra AUV	Autonomous Underwater Vehicle	500 meters	Seabed mapping, military surveillance, marine research	Operational
Varaha-1	Deep-Sea Mining Robot	6,000 meters	Collecting polymetallic nodules	Under development
ROSUB 6000	Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)	6,000 meters	Deep-sea surveillance, underwater rescue, mining	Active
INS Sagardhwani	Ocean Research Ship	200 meters (Survey)	Hydrographic surveys, naval research	Active
Sagarmala Project AUVs	Swarm of AUVs	1,000 meters	Coastal monitoring, underwater surveillance	Under development

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. India deep sea capabilities are crucial for resource exploration, national security & scientific research. Discuss significance of Deep Ocean Mission & evaluate challenges India faces in developing deep sea technologies.