Context:
India is set to become the sixth country to have its own deep-sea mission. The first stage of the harbour trial, reaching depths of 40-50 meters, is planned by September 2024. This mission has the potential to significantly contribute to the overall growth of the Indian economy.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Matsya 6000:
- A three-person submersible capable of descending to a depth of 6,000 meters.
- Developed by Chennai’s National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
- Structure: Constructed with 80mm-thick titanium alloy, it can withstand pressures 600 times that at sea level. The submersible can operate continuously for 12 to 16 hours and has an oxygen supply lasting 96 hours.
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT):
- Establishment:
- Founded in November 1993 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Objectives:
- To develop reliable indigenous technologies to address various engineering challenges related to the extraction of non-living and living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which covers about two-thirds of India’s land area.
Deep Sea Mission:
- Overview:
- The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is a significant Indian initiative aimed at exploring and utilizing oceanic depths.
- Details:
- A five-year mission approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021, with a budget of approximately ₹4,077 crore.
- The mission’s goals include developing technologies for deep-sea mining, manned submersibles, and underwater robotics, as well as providing ocean climate change advisory services, and conducting deep-ocean surveys and exploration.
-Source: Indian Express
