Context: After the success of Chandrayaan Mission, India is set to launch the Samudrayaan Mission to explore depths of the deep ocean and its resources. This will be India’s first manned mission to explore the mystery of the ocean. 

• In this mission, the submarine will carry three scientists to a depth of 6000 meters in a submersible vehicle.

Samudrayaan Mission

• Samudrayaan is India’s first manned ocean mission. It is a part of the Deep Ocean Mission.

• Objective: It is designed to study deep-sea resources and conduct biodiversity assessments.

Features

• The mission aims to send 3 people to a depth of 6,000 meters in the sea in a manned submersible vehicle called MATSYA 6000.

• The submersible will allow scientific personnel to observe and understand unexplored deep sea areas by direct interventions. Further, it will enhance the capability for deep sea man rated vehicle development.

Implementation

• The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai is designing and developing the Samudrayan project and it is likely to be ready by 2026. 

Significance

• The mission is significant as it will allow scientific personnel to observe and understand unexplored deep-sea areas through direct intervention. 

• It also aligns with the Government of India’s vision of ‘New India’, highlighting the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.