UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:

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: 

Answer: 2 

Explanation:  

India’s Deep Ocean Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, not by the Ministry of Ports,  Shipping and Waterways. It aims to develop technologies for deep-sea exploration, including a manned  submersible, deep-sea mining systems, ocean climate advisory services and marine biodiversity studies.  

• The Deep Ocean Mission was launched by the Government of India in 2021 under the Ministry of  Earth Sciences. It is not a mission of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. So, statement 1 is  not correct. 
• Matsya-6000 is India’s flagship human submersible under the mission. It is designed to carry three  persons to a depth of about 6,000 metres for deep-sea exploration and observation. So, statement 2 is  correct.  
• Samudrayaan is a project under the Deep Ocean Mission. Under this project, the National Institute  of Ocean Technology is developing the manned submersible Matsya-6000. So, statement 3 is correct. 

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.