**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the India International Science Festival, emphasizing the potential of the blue economy as a key driver for India's future growth in energy security, food needs, and strategic strength. The minister highlighted the need to harness the economic and scientific potential of oceans and stressed the importance of the Deep Ocean Mission in institutionalizing ocean-related research. He cautioned about emerging challenges, including climate-induced threats and marine pollution, stressing that effective resource mapping, appropriate technology, and private sector participation are essential.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Blue Economy Importance:**
* The blue economy has the potential to drive India's future growth, contributing to energy security, food needs, and strategic strength.
* Oceans hold minerals, metals, biodiversity, and fisheries.
* Ocean resources are equal to 60% of India's landmass.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Government focus on the blue economy is reflected in the Prime Minister's Independence Day addresses in 2023 and 2024, identifying it as a national priority.
* The Deep Ocean Mission will play a central role in institutionalizing India's ocean-related research and economic activities.
* **Ocean Resources and Potential:**
* India has a coastline of over 11,000 km and an exclusive economic zone of more than 2.37 million square kilometers.
* Ocean-based renewable energy sources include offshore wind energy, ocean-based solar power, tidal and wave energy, thermal energy, and energy from saline gradients.
* Sustainable use of ocean resources will strengthen India's geopolitical standing and open economic opportunities in marine transport, deep-sea mining, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical discovery.
* **Challenges and Solutions:**
* Emerging challenges include climate-induced threats (coastal erosion, marine heat waves, intensified cyclones) and non-climatic issues (marine litter and pollution).
* Effective resource mapping, use of appropriate technology, and greater private sector participation are essential to address these concerns.
* **Collaboration and Future Outlook:**
* Senior officials, scientists, and administrators emphasized the need for coordinated action between government, research institutions, and industry.
* Collective efforts are needed to responsibly explore ocean resources.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of India and Ministry of Science & Technology**
* **Impact:** Further drive and institutionalize ocean-related research and economic activities.
* **Action Required:** Prioritize and allocate resources to the Deep Ocean Mission and other blue economy initiatives.
**Research Institutions and Scientists**
* **Impact:** Increased research opportunities and funding for ocean-related studies.
* **Action Required:** Engage in coordinated research efforts with the government and industry to explore ocean resources responsibly.
**Industry (Private Sector)**
* **Impact:** New economic opportunities in marine transport, deep-sea mining, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical discovery.
* **Action Required:** Participate in ocean resource exploration initiatives, adopt sustainable practices, and collaborate with government and research institutions.
**Citizens of India**
* **Impact:** Potential for improved energy security, food availability, and economic growth through the development of the blue economy.
* **Action Required:** Support and promote sustainable practices to protect ocean resources and address climate-induced threats.
Key Entities Referenced
Deep Ocean Mission: An initiative aimed at exploring and utilizing ocean resources sustainably, with a focus on minerals, energy, and biodiversity.
India International Science Festival (IISF): An annual event where scientific achievements are showcased, and discussions are held, promoting awareness and interest in science.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister for Science and Technology, actively promoting the blue economy.
Blue Economy: Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The ministry responsible for promoting scientific research and technological development in India.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Blue economy to be the new engine of India’s
growth: Dr. Jitendra Singh at IISF
Tidal, thermal, and offshore wind power to boost clean
energy mix from oceans, says the Minister
Climate threats, marine litter make scientific mapping of
ocean resources urgent: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Oceans hold minerals, energy, and biodiversity equal to 60%
of India’s landmass: Dr. Jitendra Singh
प्रव तथ: 08 DEC 2025 6:01PM by PIB Delhi
Describing India’s oceans a largely untapped national asset, Union Minister for Science and Technology
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the blue economy has the potential to emerge as a major driver of the country’s
future growth, contributing to energy security, food needs, and strategic strength.
The Minister was delivering keynote address at the session titled “Blue Economy, Oceans, Poles, Earth
and Ecology – Sagarika, the tale of earth sciences” during the India International Science Festival.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that while oceans have been central to India’s
civilisational understanding, systematic efforts to harness their economic and scientific potential have
gained momentum only in recent years. He underlined that the government’s focus on the blue economy is
clearly reflected in the Prime Minister’s Independence Day addresses in 2023 and 2024, where it was
identified as a national priority.
Highlighting India’s geographical advantage, the minister pointed out that the country has a coastline of
over 11,000 km and an exclusive economic zone of more than 2.37 million square kilometres. “Nearly 60
per cent of our landmass-equivalent lies in the ocean, yet its contribution to value creation has remained
limited so far,” he said, adding that achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047 would require looking
beyond land-based resources.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Deep Ocean Mission would play a central role in institutionalising India’s
ocean-related research and economic activities. He noted that oceans hold reserves of minerals, metals,
biodiversity, and fisheries, and can significantly supplement the country’s clean energy transition.
Referring to renewable options, he spoke about offshore wind energy, ocean-based solar power, tidal and
wave energy, thermal energy derived from temperature differences in seawater, and even energy from
saline gradients.At the same time, he cautioned about emerging challenges, including climate-induced threats such as
coastal erosion, marine heat waves and intensified cyclones, as well as non-climatic issues like marine
litter and pollution. Effective resource mapping, use of appropriate technology and greater participation of
the private sector were essential to address these concerns, he said.
The Minister also flagged the strategic dimension of the blue economy, stating that sustainable use of
ocean resources would strengthen India’s geopolitical standing in a changing global order. He noted that
marine transport, deep-sea mining, biotechnology, and the discovery of new pharmaceutical compounds
from ocean biodiversity could open fresh economic opportunities.
The panel discussion was attended by senior officials including the Secretary, Department of
Biotechnology, and the Chief Secretary of Government of Haryana, with scientists and administrators
emphasising the need for coordinated action between government, research institutions, and industry.
Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by urging collective efforts to responsibly explore ocean resources, stressing
that the decisions taken today would shape India’s economic and ecological future.*****
NKR/AK
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