India's Deep Ocean Mission, with its Samudrayaan project, has achieved a significant milestone, demonstrating the nation's growing capabilities in marine technology and resource exploration. In a first-of-its-kind expedition, an Indian aquanaut journeyed to a depth of 5,002 meters into the ocean, marking a major step forward for the country's deep-sea ambitions.

This achievement is part of the larger Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), which includes developing both crewed and uncrewed submersibles and deep-sea mining technologies. The mission aims to harness resources from India's Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf. The Deep Ocean Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021 and is being implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

As part of Indo-French research collaborations, two Indian aquanauts, Jatinder Pal Singh and Raju Ramesh, successfully completed deep dives in the North Atlantic Ocean using the French submersible "Nautile" on August 5 and 6. Ramesh, a scientist at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), descended to 4,025 meters on August 5, followed by Singh, a retired Navy commander, who reached 5,002 meters on August 6.

Union Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh hailed this achievement, which occurred shortly after Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station, as India's "double conquest". He noted the simultaneous presence of an Indian in space and another in the deep ocean, emphasizing the country's expanding frontiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed strong support for the Deep Ocean Mission and the blue economy, mentioning it in his Independence Day speeches in 2022 and 2023.

M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, explained that this expedition was conducted as part of the Deep Ocean Mission, with the goal of developing technologies to harness non-living ocean resources and a submersible capable of carrying humans to the deepest parts of the ocean. Before undertaking a deep dive in the indigenous 'Matsya 6000' submersible, which is expected around December 2027 under the 'Samudrayaan' project, further dives will be conducted using the French submersible.

The 'Matsya 6000' is a crucial component of the Samudrayaan mission, designed to carry three people to depths of 6,000 meters inside a 2.1-meter diameter titanium alloy sphere that can withstand extreme pressures. The submersible will be equipped with scientific sensors, data and voice communication systems, and safety subsystems with an emergency endurance of up to 96 hours.

With the Samudrayaan mission, India is poised to join a select group of nations, including the US, Russia, France, Japan, and China, that possess the technology and capabilities for manned deep-sea exploration. The mission aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, which emphasizes the protection of "Life below Water" and highlights the ocean's crucial role in sustaining life and the environment.

The Deep Ocean Mission, launched in 2021, aims to explore and sustainably harness deep-sea resources using advanced technology. With an outlay of ₹4,077 crore over five years, the mission supports India's Blue Economy and includes six components: manned submersible development (Samudrayaan), deep-sea biodiversity exploration, mining polymetallic nodules, ocean climate advisory services, a marine station for ocean biology to promote research, and advanced ocean observation systems using underwater sensors and AI.

The mission's objectives include exploring polymetallic nodules, enhancing India's deep-sea research capabilities, and developing underwater vehicles and robotics. The insights gained during the mission have the potential to propel India's Blue Economy by supporting the identification and exploration of deep-sea mineral deposits and other potential resources of economic value.