What is it?

• It is an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in collaboration with ISRO, DRDO, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Indian Navy.
• The Indian government wants to understand the oceans better, both as a resource and for the conservation of marine biodiversity.
• One of the main aspects of the mission will be design, development and demonstration of human submersibles (in the image below). 

• Studies are planned at depths close to 6,000 metres under six major components — 

1. Mineral exploration on the sea-bed; 
2. Study and mapping of biodiversity; 
3. Study of climate change; 
4. Exploration of marine biology and developing allied courses, 
5. Training; development and demonstration of ocean exploration 
6. Off-shore technologies for future.

• India has been ear-marked nearly 1.5 lakh square kilometres of area in the central Indian Ocean for exploration.

What is the use of this mission?

• The mission forms a part of the Blue Economy envisioned to be developed by 2030, which will place India among select countries — US, France, Japan, Russia and China — to have special missions dedicated for ocean studies.
• It is a strategic and geo-political move in order to further strengthen India’s position in the Indian Ocean region.
• Globally, only 11 percent of marine species have been identified. The deep ocean species are even less explored. Hence it will be helpful in identifying the species and know more about climate change.

Why in the news?

• The budget of 2021-22 outlays more than Rs 4,000 crores, over the next five years for Deep Ocean Mission.

References:

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/deep-ocean-mission-rs-4000-crore-allocated-to-help-india-strengthen-links-with-its-oceans-7170567/lite/
2. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/union-budget-2021-22-finance-minister-launches-rs-4-000-crore-deep-ocean-mission-75308
3. https://theprint.in/science/india-to-launch-rs-4000-cr-deep-sea-mission-to-explore-minerals-energy-marine-diversity/549667/