Deep Ocean Mission
Why it Matters?
Launched in 2021, India’s Deep Ocean Mission aims to explore and sustainably harness deep-sea resources to strengthen the Blue Economy. The Samudrayaan Project, featuring the manned submersible MATSYA 6000, achieved a 5,000 m dive in 2025, collecting cobalt-rich nodules and advancing oceanographic research, technology, and strategic maritime capabilities.
What You Should Know?
Deep Ocean Mission was launched on 7th September 2021 by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
Its objective is to explore and sustainably utilize deep ocean living and non-living resources to boost India’s Blue Economy.
Major Components of the mission include;
Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining and Manned Submersible
Build MATSYA 6000 submersible for 6,000 m deep-sea dives.
Develop Integrated Mining System for polymetallic nodules extraction.
Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services
Observations and models to study and forecast climate variables.
Support Blue Economy initiatives, especially coastal tourism.
Technological Innovations for Deep-Sea Biodiversity
Bio-prospecting deep-sea flora, fauna, and microbes.
Promote sustainable use of deep-sea biological resources and marine fisheries.
Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration
Identify multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide sites along Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
Support resource exploration under Blue Economy.
Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean
Study and design offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plants.
Support offshore energy development.
Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
Build talent and innovation in ocean biology and engineering.
Promote research-to-industry translation via on-site incubators.
Support marine biology, blue trade, and marine manufacturing.
The Samudrayaan Project under the mission is developing India’s first manned submersible, MATSYA 6000, which can carry three individuals to depths of up to 6,000 meters.