Current Context: By the end-2026, India will launch Samudrayaan, a crewed submarine project under the Deep Ocean Mission, to explore the ocean up to 6,000 m deep.

About the Mission:

• Deep Ocean Mission (DOM):
  • Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • Aims to study deep-ocean resources and technologies for five years.
• MATSYA-6000 Submersible:
  • India’s fourth-generation crewed mini-submarine.
  • Endurance: 12 hours normally, 96 hours in emergency.
  • Status: Successfully completed wet tests.
• Objectives:
  • Research deep-sea plants, animals, and minerals.
  • Build tools for long-term ocean monitoring.
  • Lay groundwork for deep-sea tourism and blue economy
• Global Context: Few countries (USA, Russia, China, France, Japan) have done crewed deep-sea dives.