Dr Jitendra Singh
For a nation as vast and diverse as ours, the journey to becoming a developed country, ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, requires us to look at every resource and every available opportunity. And our greatest untapped resource lies in the vast blue ocean that surrounds our country.
Blue Economy is our new frontier for growth, a pathway to prosperity, sustainability, and national strength. It is a powerful concept that includes everything from traditional activities such as fisheries, ports, and shipping to cutting-edge new fields such as marine biotechnology, eco-tourism, renewable ocean energy, and deep-sea exploration.
Earth sciences ministry defines Blue Economy as “comprising the entire system of ocean resources and man-made economic infrastructure in marine, maritime and onshore coastal zones within India’s legal jurisdic tion, aiding the production of goods and services withs clear linkages to economic growth, environmental sustainability and national security”.
With a revised coastline stretching now over 11,098km and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone spanning 2.4 sq mn km, India is exceptionally well-placed to build a $100bn growth engine through a sustainable use of ocean resources creating jobs, supporting coastal communities, protecting marine ecosystems, and strengthening our global maritime presence.
We are now in Blue Economy 2.0, focusing not just on traditional sectors but also the emerging, high-potential areas that will define our future. For example, the Deep Ocean Mission is helping our scientists explore the deep sea using the Matsya 6000 submersible, aiming to find strategic resources and create new technologies for the future. The Sagarmala Programme is modernising our ports to make our trade more efficient and our businesses more competitive. For our coastal communities, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is a flagship scheme to bring a ‘blue revolution’ to our fisheries sector.
But our vision goes far beyond this. It empowers people and protects our planet. It includes creation of new opportunities for women’s empowerment, by encouraging them to lead in sustainable fields like seaweed farming and eco-friendly tourism, providing them new income streams and a greater voice in their communities. It includes investments in our youth, offering them training and skills for new Blue Economy jobs, from marine engineering to data analytics. We are nurturing a new generation of blue- collar innovators and entrepreneurs.
To support innovation, GOI acts as a catalyst for private investment and innovative startups, which form the Blue Economy core. We create a business-friendly environment where young, energetic companies can develop solutions in areas like smart fishing, green port logistics, and marine biotechnology. Our focus on tech and startups is a key part of our plan to build a self-reliant India, which not only consumes but also creates.
We are encouraging clean and green activities, such as sustainable fish farming and the restoration of mangroves and coral reefs, which act as natural barriers against climate change and rising sea levels. In places like Lakshadweep, India’s first ocean thermal energy plant is demonstrating how innovation can provide both clean electricity and drinking water. Our Harit Sagar Guidelines are a clear commitment to making our ports green, aiming for zero carbon emissions and the use of clean fuels.
India is also taking a leadership role in global ocean governance. During our G20 presidency, we launched the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable Blue Economy, setting a global framework for responsible ocean development. We are strengthening partnerships with other developed countries and multilateral agencies for science-based decision-making in the interest of oceans and people.
We have also signed the historic Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement, reaffirming our commitment to protecting marine biodiversity on a global scale. Most recently, India participated in the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where we launched the SAHAV Portal, a pioneering digital platform to enhance coordination, knowledge sharing, and transparency across Blue Economy initiatives such as Marine Spatial Planning.
The journey to Viksit Bharat is a shared one and Blue Economy is a national commitment to responsibly harness the full power of our oceans. By empowering our people, protecting our nature, and investing in science and technology, we are building a maritime future that will benefit all Indians. As we look ahead to 2047, building a New India that is prosperous, inclusive, and ecologically secure, the tide is with us, and we are ready to ride it towards a brighter future.
(The writer is Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions)
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