New Delhi: The Finance Minister announced that India will launch Deep Ocean Mission to investigate seabed and biodiversity. “The government proposes deep ocean mission with outlay of more than Rs 4,000 crore over four years,” said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman.

WHAT IS DEEP OCEAN MISSION

Digital Ocean is one of its kind digital platform for ocean data management launched, in a big improvement to research, ‘Blue Economy’ initiatives and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Digital Ocean will provide consolidated data with users including defence, research institutions, agencies, maritime productions and policy makers. It will also give free admission to information to the general public.

It will also cater as a platform for capacity building on Ocean Data for all Indian Ocean Rim nations. It will also help INCOIS’ other initiatives like early tsunami warnings, advisories on Potential Fishing Zones, Storm Surges, oil spills to name a few.

The mission will give a boost to efforts to travel India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf. The mission will also involve developing technologies for different deep ocean initiatives.

Another aspect of the mission will be design, development and demonstration of human submersibles. It will also help for option of deep sea mining and developing necessary technologies. India has been ear-marked nearly 1.5 lakh square kilometres of area in the central Indian Ocean for exploration.