‘One Indian in deep sea, another in space’: Govt sets historic target for 2026

Last update:December 26, 2024, 7:12 PM IST

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government plans to send a man into the deep sea.

India plans to send a man into the deep sea around the same time it will send a man into space by early 2026. (IMAGE: PEXELS)

The Center plans to send a man into the deep sea, the mission likely to coincide with the human space mission in early 2026, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.

Speaking at the ’20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami’ at the Indian National Center for Ocean Intelligence Services (INCOIS), he recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned the Deep Sea Mission in last speech on Independence Day.

“We also plan to send a man into the deep sea. I was telling Ravichandran (Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences) that it would be a strange coincidence – one man in space and one in the deep sea. This will happen almost simultaneously,” Singh said.

The human space mission, originally planned for 2025, may not happen next year, but is now expected in early 2026, he added.

“…an Indian up there and an Indian in the deep sea. This will again, be a record of sorts,” Singh said, also underlining the growing importance of ocean exploration in the country’s journey to becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Advocating for the sustainable exploration and conservation of India’s 7,500 kilometer coastline and its abundant marine resources, the minister said the government was working to create an ecosystem to support these efforts.

He told PTI Videos that the services and information provided by INCOIS are not only relevant to the coastal communities along the coast of India but also to people around the world.

Lauding the state-of-the-art facility, he said the institute provides services that contribute not only to the development of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ but also to India’s significant contribution to the world.

Recalling the devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami, Singh spoke about the crucial lessons learned and the transformative policies that followed.

He added that the tragedy catalyzed the establishment of institutions like INCOIS, which now stands as a testament to India’s commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods.

An official release in 2023 said that as part of the Samudrayan Mission undertaken by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, the country aims to send three people 6,000 meters below sea level for exploration.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)