Blue Economy: Policies, Initiatives and Key Sectors

Blue Economy in India

The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean and marine resources for economic growth, jobs and livelihoods, while protecting ecosystem health. For India, with a coastline of more than 7,500 kilometres, it covers fisheries, shipping, ports, offshore energy, deep-sea exploration and marine planning.

The policy focus has shifted from resource extraction alone to a balance between economic use, environmental protection and long-term maritime security. Several recent schemes and institutional measures now shape this agenda.

Institutional Framework and Marine Planning

• Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): The nodal ministry for ocean research, weather advisory services and deep-sea exploration.
• Ministerial leadership: Dr. Jitendra Singh serves as Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for MoES, while Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala was appointed Secretary in July 2026.
• NITI Aayog policy report: In October 2025, it released India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries, highlighting reforms for deeper marine resource use while safeguarding ecology.
• Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) in Odisha: Odisha became the first Indian state to launch an MSP in April 2026 in collaboration with the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) under India-Norway cooperation.
• Puducherry MSP: Puducherry approved its draft MSP in November 2025.
• SAHAV portal: Puducherry’s SAHAV planning portal was recognised as a Digital Public Good under SDG-14, which focuses on life below water.

Fisheries and Marine Resource Management

• PMMSY: The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is the flagship scheme for fisheries development and management.
• Continuation of PMMSY: The central government has continued the scheme in its existing form until September 2026.
• Fish production: Under PMMSY, India’s fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25.
• Fisheries exports: Total fisheries exports rose to ₹73,890 crore in FY 2025-26.
• Budget support: The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated a record ₹2,761.80 crore for the fisheries sector, including ₹2,530 crore under PMMSY.
• Infrastructure focus: The allocation supports inland fisheries, deep-sea vessels and cold storage facilities.
• EEZ and high seas reforms: Fish caught by Indian vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas have been made duty-free. Landings of such fish at foreign ports are treated as exports.
• Reservoir development: The Budget also announced integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars to expand fisheries potential.
• Local institutions: The initiative is meant to support cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs).

Deep-Sea Exploration and MATSYA-6000

• Deep Ocean Mission: Launched in September 2021 with an outlay of ₹4,077 crore over five years.
• Mission focus: It covers deep-sea mining, energy and marine biodiversity.
• MATSYA-6000: The human submersible completed subsystem realization and wet harbour trials at an 8-metre depth in January-February 2025.
• Polymetallic nodules: Scientists collected over 100 kg of cobalt-rich deep-sea polymetallic nodules from a depth of 1,173 metres in the Andaman Sea.
• Mineral significance: These nodules contain cobalt, nickel and copper, which are important for green energy technologies.
• O-SMART: The Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology umbrella scheme has been extended for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹2,177 crore.
• O-SMART functions: It supports oceanographic research, coastal zone management and early warning systems for marine natural hazards.

Port Infrastructure and Shipbuilding Development

• Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS): The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on September 24, 2025.
• Outlay: The scheme has an outlay of ₹19,989 crore.
• Capacity target: It aims to build domestic shipbuilding capacity of 4.5 million gross tonnage annually.
• Policy intent: The scheme promotes indigenous vessel manufacturing and technological self-reliance.
• Vadhavan Port: A greenfield port project of ₹76,220 crore is under construction in Maharashtra.
• Strategic importance: Vadhavan will be India’s 13th major port.
• Cargo capacity: The project aims to add 164 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of cargo handling capacity by 2030-31.

Offshore Renewable Energy Initiatives

• Offshore wind support: In June 2024, the Union Cabinet approved a ₹7,453 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for 1 Gigawatt (GW) of offshore wind energy projects.
• State allocation: The capacity is divided equally between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, with 500 Megawatt (MW) each.
• Policy significance: Offshore wind is a key part of India’s non-fossil energy targets.
• Investment role: The VGF scheme addresses high initial capital costs and encourages private developers to set up the first commercial-scale offshore wind farms.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• MoES: Nodal ministry for ocean research, weather advisory services and deep-sea exploration.
• Marine Spatial Planning: Odisha became the first state to launch an MSP in April 2026; Puducherry approved its draft MSP in November 2025.
• PMMSY: Continued till September 2026; fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25.
• Fisheries budget: ₹2,761.80 crore allocated in Union Budget 2026-27, including ₹2,530 crore under PMMSY.
• Deep Ocean Mission: Launched in September 2021 with an outlay of ₹4,077 crore; MATSYA-6000 completed wet harbour trials.
• O-SMART: Extended for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹2,177 crore for ocean research and coastal hazard warnings.
• Major infrastructure: SbDS approved on September 24, 2025 with ₹19,989 crore outlay; Vadhavan Port is a ₹76,220 crore greenfield project.