India’s first manned deep ocean mission, Samudrayaan, is expected to launch by the end of 2026, taking a leap into a depth of 6000 metres using the indigenously developed submersible vehicle ‘Matsya’.
The announcement came from Dr Balaji Ramakrishnan, director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), while inaugurating a five-day national training on the role of fisheries in the blue economy at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on May 14.
The vehicle is being built to carry three researchers on board and withstand the extreme pressures of the deep ocean. Matsya, a 25-tonne fourth-generation manned submersible with a titanium hull, will be launched in stages, with a trial at 500 metres planned before the end of 2025.
Samudrayaan is being positioned as a key step in advancing India’s ocean research capabilities. According to NIOT, the mission could enable better mapping of deep-sea ecosystems, both living and non-living, while also laying the foundation for more focused ocean observations and even long-term ambitions like deep-sea tourism.
The actual descent into the deep ocean is expected to take about four hours, with a similar duration to resurface. During this journey, the team on board Matsya will collect biological and water samples from the hadal zone – one of the least explored regions on Earth.
Alongside the Samudrayaan project, NIOT is also piloting a new technology called ‘Samudrajivah’, aimed at scaling up open sea aquaculture. The submerged fish cages under this project are designed to function in offshore waters, making use of nutrient-rich deep-sea conditions to support fish growth.
Dr Ramakrishnan noted that these cages are equipped with sensors that can remotely monitor fish movement, biomass, and water quality. Though still in the demonstration phase, Samudrajivah could potentially play a role in enhancing food security through marine farming.
Speaking at the event, CMFRI director Dr Grinson George underlined the need to integrate NIOT’s marine technologies with CMFRI’s research in fisheries to further India’s blue economy strategy. He pointed out that the mariculture sector, particularly seaweed cultivation, requires technological upgrades to realise its potential.
He also stressed the importance of developing early warning systems for jellyfish swarms and harmful algal blooms, which frequently affect coastal livelihoods.
