Samudrayaan Project: MATSYA 6000, Polymetallic Nodules, Significance | UPSC
The Samudrayaan Project is India's bold mission to take humans to the ocean floor. As part of the Deep Ocean Mission, India's entry into deep-sea exploration showcases India's scientific progress. The program focuses on resource exploration, biodiversity exploration, and technology advancement and provides the capability for India's ocean research. Further, it serves to encourage national pride while achieving international recognition.
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The Samudrayaan Project is necessary for UPSC preparation. It is linked with the Deep Ocean Mission. It is relevant for GS Paper 3. It comes under Science and Technology. It is also part of Environmental Studies. It connects with India's resource security. It highlights sustainable development. The Samudrayaan Project is also linked with Atmanirbhar Bharat. It shows India's scientific progress. It is essential for current affairs. Join the UPSC coaching today and boost your preparation.
What Is Samudrayaan Project?
The Samudrayaan Project is India's first human ocean mission under the Deep Ocean Mission. It aims to send a crewed submersible, MATSYA 6000, up to 6000 meters deep to explore polymetallic nodules and marine biodiversity, and develop indigenous technology for sustainable deep-sea resource utilization.
About Samudrayaan Mission
- It is India's first crewed mission to the deep ocean.
- It is to design a manned submersible capable of propelling itself and taking three human occupants to 6,000 meters of water depth in the ocean with an array of scientific sensors and equipment to explore the deep sea.
- It is to study the deep ocean resources and conduct a biodiversity assessment.
- The mission will not interfere with the ecosystem since the submersible is employed for exploration alone.
- The project comes within the broader Deep Ocean Mission that enlists the support of the Central Government's Blue Economy policy.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
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Background of the Samudrayaan Project
The Ministry of Earth Sciences is implementing the Samudrayaan Project. It was approved in 2021. It is a part of the Deep Ocean Mission, a central government scheme for exploring ocean resources and developing underwater exploration capability. Samudrayaan is the critical aspect of the Deep Ocean Mission and is mainly based on projects undertaken on space missions. It is often compared with another ISRO project, Gaganyaan Mission, as Gaganyaan explores space and Samudrayaan explores the ocean.
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Objectives of the Samudrayaan Project
The Samudrayaan mission has many essential objectives. It aims to explore polymetallic nodules. These nodules are rich in valuable minerals. The project will help in studying deep-sea biodiversity. It also focuses on resource utilization. The mission will develop deep-sea technologies. It will create advanced submersibles. It will also improve India's underwater research capacity. The Samudrayaan Project also supports sustainable resource use. It will ensure environmental balance while using resources.
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Features of the Samudrayaan Project
The Samudrayaan mission utilizes a crewed submersible vehicle called 'MATSYA 6000', which can dive to 6000 meters. The submersible can submerge three crew for operating hours at the seabed. The purpose of the submersible is to study seabed resources using detailed exploration surveys. The submersible uses purpose-designed technologies to ensure members navigate extreme ocean water depths using modern navigation technologies.
Significance of the Samudrayaan Mission
The Samudrayaan Project is critical and enhances India's capability in deep-sea exploration. It provides resource security for India as it reduces import dependency. It works to improve indigenous technology. It supports the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. It raises India's standing in global ocean research. It improves international collaboration. It creates opportunities for scientists in India. It inspires young students. The Samudrayaan Project distinguishes India among a select group of countries. Very few countries have this capability.
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Polymetallic Nodules and Resource Potential
The ocean bottom has polymetallic nodules. They are manganese-containing, nickel-containing, cobalt-containing and copper-containing. These minerals are grouped as necessities for industries. They advocate the manufacture of batteries and electronics. They are also critical to renewable energy technologies. In the Indian Ocean, there are exploration rights of India. The International Seabed Authority provided these rights. The Samudrayaan Project will explore such nodules. It will assist India in gaining resources. It will also lower foreign reliance.
Role in Deep Ocean Mission
The Samudrayaan Project is a key part of the Deep Ocean Mission. The Deep Ocean Mission has many components. It includes technology development, resource study, and biodiversity research. It also includes ocean climate studies. The Samudrayaan Project provides the human submersible. This submersible helps in practical exploration. It supports other mission components. It connects scientific research with the use of technology. It also ensures a better understanding of oceans.
- It is a mission-mode program to assist the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
- It was initiated as a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- It is a multi-ministerial, multi-disciplinary high-level program for enhanced understanding of the deep-sea living and non-living resources of the Indian Ocean.
- It is meant for evolving technologies to exploit living and non-living resources from the deep oceans.
- The cost of the Mission will be approximately 4077 crores for 5 years (2021-26) and will be executed on a phased basis.
- Six broad components of the Mission are:
- Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, Manned Submersible, and Underwater Robotics
- Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services;
- Technological breakthroughs for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity
- Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration
- Energy and freshwater from the Ocean
- Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
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Challenges in the Samudrayaan Project
The Samudrayaan Project possesses several challenges. The pressure in the deep sea is very significant. Submersible design will be complex as it will try to develop safe and reliable designs. It is challenging to communicate in the deep sea. The safety and well-being of the crew are imperative. Development of local technology is not easy. Finance is really a problem of investment. The overall price necessary to execute the project is high. Deep-sea mining will always have environmental issues; altering the ecology, particularly the environment, is one of the main drawbacks we must consider. We should balance economic development and ecological conservation. There are several difficulties in the Samudrayaan Project.
Environmental Aspects
Deep-ocean ecosystems are very vulnerable, and mining can disrupt biodiversity and marine habitat, as well as the displacement of sediments due to the sediment plume, which can disrupt the local ecosystem. The Samudrayaan Project must ensure sustainable practice to limit or prevent environmental degradation. Environmental assessments are crucial in this regard. Further, India must implement effective policies to minimize impacts on ocean ecosystems. Finally, the Samudrayaan project must be aligned with international standards. Conservation and exploration must go hand in hand.
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International Context
Only a handful of countries currently have deep-sea submersibles. The USA, Russia, China, France, and Japan are the only countries utilizing deep-sea submersibles. With the Samudrayaan Project, India is among the elite clubs. It has the potential to enhance India's standing on the world stage. It enables ocean diplomacy. It can create an opportunity for scientific collaboration. It provides India with leadership in ocean research and will enhance India's global strategy.
What is MATSYA 6000?
MATSYA 6000 is India's first crewed deep-sea submersible developed under the Samudrayaan Project. It can dive up to 6000 meters below sea level. It will carry three humans for deep-ocean exploration. It is designed to safely study polymetallic nodules, marine biodiversity, and underwater ecosystems.
- It is a manned submersible vehicle developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
- It was developed under the Samudrayaan mission to help humans in the deep ocean explore mineral resources.
- It has an endurance of 12 hours of operational period and 96 hours in case of emergency.
- It will allow scientific personnel to observe and understand unexplored deep-sea areas through direct interventions. Further, it will enhance the capability for deep-sea man-rated vehicle development.
- Expected to be launched in 2024-25, it would make India only one among six countries (the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China) to have piloted a crewed under-sea expedition beyond 5,000 metres.
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Conclusion
The Samudrayaan Project is a landmark event for India, highlighting India's ability in science, advancing the exploration of ocean resources, advancing sustainable development, creating indigenously made technologies, inspiring future scientists, and improving India's place on the global stage. The Samudrayaan Project represents ambition with a sense of responsibility and development with conservation, and it has the potential to spearhead the future of ocean research in India.
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