Lok Sabha Question No. 919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Deep Ocean Mission
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi, Shri Avimanyu Sethi, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 919 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## DEEP OCEAN MISSION

## 919. SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI:

SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI:

SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  major  milestones  achieved  under  the  Deep  Ocean  Mission  since  its launch;
- (b) the  current  status  of  indigenous  research  vessels,  ocean  observation  systems  and coastal safety mechanisms such as the Tsunami Early Warning Centre;
- (c) the steps  taken to  integrate deep-ocean research  with resource  security,  biodiversity conservation and coastal resilience; and
- (d) the  future  timelines  and  priorities  for  scaling  up  deep-ocean  technologies  and international scientific collaboration?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The Deep Ocean Mission encompasses  six  verticals, which  are  1)  Development  of Technologies for Deep-sea mining, Human Submersible and underwater robotics, 2) Development  of  Ocean Climate  Change  Advisory Services, 3) Technological Innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity, 4) Deep-ocean survey and exploration, 5) Energy  and fresh water from the ocean, and 6) Establishment  of  Advanced  Marine  Station  for  Ocean  Biology.  The  significant milestones achieved under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) are as follows:
-  The  design  and  system  engineering  of  India's  flagship  human  submersible MATSY-6000, capable of reaching a depth of 6000 meters with three aquanauts, has  been  completed.    Subsystems  have  been  realized,  and  the  wet  tests  were conducted  at  L&T  Harbour  in  Katupalli,  near  Chennai,  in  January-February 2025. Scientists at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, entrusted with the development of MATSYA-6000, have gained pilot experience with the French submersible NAUTILE in August 2025.
-  The prediction of 100-year return extreme sea level along the coasts of the Indian subcontinent has been completed and associated coastal vulnerability maps have been prepared. To strengthen ocean observation, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, has successfully completed 11 glider missions along predetermined transects in the Arabian Sea (67°E) and the Bay of Bengal (89°E), and deployed 60 directional Wave Spectra Barometric Drifters and 92 physical and biogeochemical Argo floats in the Indian Ocean.
-  Nearly  1845  deep-sea  microbes  have  been  isolated  from  water  and  sediment samples of the Indian EEZ, and rare deep-sea microbes previously not reported from the Indian  Ocean  have  been discovered. A  total of 25  seamounts (biodiversity  hotspots)  have  been  surveyed  by  the  Centre  for  Marine  Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, in the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar regions, documenting 195 deep-sea species (including 39 potential new taxa).
-  Two  active  and  two  inactive  hydrothermal  vents  have  been  identified  on  the Indian Ocean seafloor through AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) surveys by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, indicating potential locations of sulphide minerals.
-  A  total  of  141  collaborative  research  projects  have  been  sanctioned  under  the Mission to ~69 national government and private institutions to complement the mission activities.
- (b) The  design  of  a  new  oceanographic  research  vessel  has  been  completed,  and  the model tests and construction of blocks for the vessel by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE),  Kolkata, under the Ministry of Defense, have been completed. A unique ocean observation comprising 11 glider missions, 60 directional Wave Spectra Barometric Drifters, and 92 physical and biogeochemical Argo floats has been deployed in the Indian Ocean as part of the Deep Ocean Mission. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC)  at INCOIS, Hyderabad, has been operational since October 2007 for real-time monitoring of tsunamigenic seismic and sea-level data, and for disseminating tsunami alerts and safety messages to all coastal states and UTs of India and to 26 Indian Ocean-RIM countries.
- (c) The  research  under  the  Deep  Ocean  Mission  is  integrated  for  exploration  and harnessing  through  ocean  living  and  non-living  resources  (such  as  biodiversity, polymetallic nodules, and polymetallic sulphides) as part of the pilot project of India's Blue  Economy  vision.  Projected  predictions  of  sea  level  rise,  extreme  waves, cyclones, and storm surge have been integrated to prepare a coastal vulnerability map that will enhance resilience to ocean hazards.
- (d) The technologies developed and to be developed under the mission are prioritized for the  benefit  of  the  country.  Technologies  are  scaled  up  indigenously  across  all verticals,  aligned  with  the  vision  of  Atmanirbhar  Bharat.  To  draw  the  international expertise, discussions were held with institutions in France and Germany (particularly CNRS, Roscoff Marine Station, IFREMER, Aix Marseille University, Mediterranean Institute  of  Oceanography,  UBO, and Sorbonne University) to enhance cooperation and  capacity  building  through  knowledge  and  expertise  sharing,  including  through scientific visits and exchange programs.

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