Government to launch Deep Ocean Mission
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is going to launch Deep Ocean Mission by January 2018 to encourage research activities in ocean science.
Key Notes:
i.The proposed inter-ministerial and interdisciplinary project aims to explore and harness mineral resources beneath the ocean floor.
ii.India has 7,500 km of coastline and 2.4 million square km of exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The oceans along Indian peninsula contain enormous opportunities in energy, food, medicine and a host of other natural resources.
iii.The proposed inter-ministerial and interdisciplinary project also seeks to create jobs and business opportunities in social science.
iv.It will involve the MoES and departments of other ministries like science and technology and the biotechnology etc.
v.The Ministry would soon launch a special training program on oceanography free of cost for university students.
vi.India was ranked 15th in the number of research papers on ocean science.