The Samudrayaan mission, a component of the deep ocean mission, will be launched by the end of 2026, according to the National Institute of Ocean Technology. It will explore the ocean at a 6000-metre depth using the manned submersible vehicle Matsya.
Matsya-6000
It is India’s fourth-generation self-propelled deep-ocean human scientific submersible vehicle, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology(NIOT, Chennai). It has successfully completed its wet testing. It has an endurance of 12 hours under normal operation and 96 hours in case of emergency.
About Samudrayaan Mission
(a) Launched: In 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) as a Central Sector Scheme with Cabinet approval.
(b) Purpose: To develop technologies for exploring deep ocean resources, promoting sustainable marine development, supporting the Blue Economy initiative, and addressing climate change and pollution.
(c) Alignment with Global Goals: Mission aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, which emphasizes the protection of “Life below Water” and highlights the ocean’s role in sustaining life and the environment.
(d) Budget and Timeline: Mission has an estimated budget of Rs. 4077 crore, to be implemented over 5 years (2021-2026) in a phase-wise manner. The first phase (2021-2024) is allocated Rs. 2823.4 crore.
(e) Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal ministry overseeing this multi-institutional mission.
Significance of Samudrayaan Mission
(i) Strategic Importance:
(a) The 7517 km coastline, nine coastal states, and 1,382 islands offer significant potential for marine resource utilization.
(b) India has an Exclusive Economic Zone allocated nearly 23,72,298 sq. km, which is unexplored and unutilized.
(c) Mission supports the government’s ‘New India’ vision, which identifies Blue Economy as one of ten core dimensions of growth.
(ii) Economic Impact:
(a) Aims to enable the sustainable usage of ocean resources for long-term economic benefits.
(b) It will contribute to GDP growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation.
(c) Focuses on exploring resources like nickel, cobalt, and other minerals, including polymetallic nodules.
(iii) Science and Technology: Facilitates deep-sea exploration through a manned submersible, enabling scientists to observe and study unexplored deep-sea areas directly.
(iv) Underwater Engineering: Promotes innovation in asset inspection, enhancing safety and maintenance in marine infrastructure.
(v) Ocean Literacy and Tourism: Encourages public awareness about marine ecosystems and opens avenues for marine tourism.
Challenges of the Samudrayaan Mission
(i) High Pressure: At a depth of 5,000 meters, pressure will be approximately 500 times greater than pressure at sea level. As a result, the mission demands specially designed, durable equipment to tolerate immense pressure.
(ii) Technical Challenges:
(a) Equipment Vulnerability: Electronics and instruments strive to operate efficiently underwater.
(b) Material Extraction: Requires significant power to pump materials from the ocean floor to the surface
(c) Communication Limitation: Communication systems face challenges due to backscattering, high attenuation, etc.
(iii) Geopolitical and strategic challenge: China’s increased presence in deep-sea regions could restrict India’s exploration efforts, especially in resource-rich zones like the Southwest Indian Ocean.
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Way Forward
(i) Accelerating Indigenous Capabilities: Investing in additional ocean research vessels and acoustic research systems will boost India’s self-reliance.
(ii) Leveraging International Cooperation: India should actively collaborate with technologically advanced nations such as the US, Japan, and Australia to enhance expertise, resource-sharing, and technology transfer. Platforms like (Quad) can ensure coordinated steps in deep-sea research and mining.
(iii) Utilizing Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI): Focus on four key pillars, i.e., Maritime Ecology, Maritime Resources, Capacity Building, and Science & Technology Cooperation, will strengthen deep-sea exploration strategies.
Conclusion
The Deep Sea Mission has significant potential to steer India’s economic growth. Only the 6th country, India’s first manned submersible, Matsya 6000, will explore the mysteries of the deep sea. Also, by comparing with its counterparts, India is positioning itself as a global leader in ocean science and sustainable resource management.