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.

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NKR/AK

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