New Delhi: India’s Deep Ocean Mission, under the ambitious Samudrayaan project, has received a major boost with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earmarking Rs 600 crore in the Union Budget. The mission aims to explore the ocean’s depths, develop advanced technologies, and explore sustainable resources from the deep sea.
A key part of the project is the development of a manned submersible by the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), capable of diving up to 6,000 meters underwater. This year, India plans to send the submersible to a depth of 500 meters, with future plans to expand its reach to the seabed at 6,000 meters by next year.
In addition to funding for the Samudrayaan mission, the Finance Minister also allocated Rs 1,329 crore for Mission Mausam, an initiative led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences aimed at enhancing weather forecasting capabilities.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences, which oversees the Deep Ocean Mission, received a total budget allocation of Rs 3,650 crore. This funding highlights India’s continued focus on advancing oceanographic research and innovation in environmental science.
