Official Question UPSC 2026
Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct? 1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. 2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration. 3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission. Select the answer using the code given below:
Solution & Analysis
Answer: B
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) framework for marine development:
•Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is a high-tech scientific initiative spearheaded explicitly by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), not the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (which handles surface-level logistics and maritime transport).
•Statement 2 is Correct: Developed indigenously by NIOT, the Matsya-6000 is a specialized manned submersible. Encased in a titanium alloy sphere to withstand crushing pressure, it is designed to carry a crew of 3 aquanauts to a depth of 6,000 meters to study biodiversity and scout for polymetallic nodules.
•Statement 3 is Correct: The Samudrayaan initiative is India’s flagship manned deep-ocean exploration project and functions as the most high-profile sub-component directly under the overarching Deep Ocean Mission.
Conclusion: Statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option B the right choice.