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, including those hitherto unexplored under-explored, and every available opportunity – particularly, when the ambitious goal is to move up the ladder from Economy Rank 4 to Rank 1. For decades, our focus has been primarily harnessing the potential of our land resources. We have built highways, expanded the railway network, developed industries, and cultivated our fields.
But as we stand in this pivotal period of our history, the Amrit Kaal, we recognize that our greatest untapped resource lies not just on land, but in the vast blue ocean that surrounds our country. The Blue Economy is more than just another sector, it is our new exclusive frontier for growth, a pathway to prosperity, sustainability, and national strength. It is also recognized as a key focus pillar within India’s vision of Viksit Bharat. It is a broad and 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.
The Blue Economy defines it as “comprising the entire system of ocean resources and man-made economic infrastructure in marine, maritime and onshore coastal zones within India’s legal jurisdiction, aiding the production of goods and services with clear linkages to economic growth, environmental sustainability and national security”. With a revised coastline stretching now over 11,098 kilometers and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone spanning 2 .4 square million kilometers, India is exceptionally well-placed to become a leader in this ocean-based growth engine.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Blue Economy has emerged as a key pillar of New India’s growth vision, with an ambitious target of building a US$100 billion economy through sustainable use of ocean resources. Blue economy not only promises to create jobs, but also support our coastal communities, protect marine ecosystems, and strengthen our global maritime presence. We are now in Blue Economy 2.0, a new phase that is more modern and forward-looking. This new phase focuses not just on traditional sectors, but on the emerging, high-potential areas that will define our future. Our efforts are already in motion through key initiatives.
The Deep Ocean Mission is helping our scientists explore the deep sea using advanced technologies like the ‘Matsya 6000’ submersible, aiming to find strategic resources and create new technologies for the future . The Sagarmala Programme is modernizing our ports and infrastructure to make trade faster and more efficient, making our businesses more competitive. For the welfare of our coastal communities, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme to bring a “Blue Revolution” to our fisheries sector. But our vision goes far beyond this.
It is a vision that empowers people and protects our planet and entails secretion of new opportunity for women’s empowerment by encouraging them to lead in sustainable fields likes seaweed farming and eco-friendly tourism. This provides them with new income streams and greater voice ice their communities. It also entails investments in our youth, offering them training and skills for the new jobs that the Blue Economy will create, from marine engineering to data analytics. We are nurturing a new generation of blue-collar innovators and entrepreneurs. To support this innovation, the Ministry acts as a catalyst for private investment and innovative start-ups which are the core of Blue Economy.
This would mean creation of a business-friendly environment where young, energetic companies can develop solutions in areas like smart fishing, green por logistics , and marine biotechnology. Our focus on technology and start-ups is a key part of our plan to build a self-reliant India, a nation that not only consumes but also creates. Sustainability and climate action are at the very core of our Blue Economy. 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 such as Lakshadweep, India’s first ocean thermal energy plant is demonstrating how innovation can provide both clean electricity and drinking water. Our Harit Sagar Guidelines area 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 G -20 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 (BBNJ) agreement, reaffirming our commitment to protecting marine biodiversity on a global scale. Most recently, India participated in the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) 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.
The 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, the Blue Economy will be a driving force behind the “New India” – one 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
(Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.)