Curriculum 2026โ€“27
Practice
Science & Technology Clusterยท Domain Code OCEN

Oceanography & Marine Resources โ€” Deep Ocean Mission, Ocean Currents & Blue Economy

Oceanography and marine resource governance explore the physical, geological, and biological systems of the global ocean and their strategic economic significance. India's maritime domain spans over 7,500 kilometres of coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone exceeding two million square kilometres. Under the ambitious Deep Ocean Mission led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, India is pioneering deep-sea exploration through the Samudrayaan mission and its indigenous human submersible 'MATSYA 6000', aimed at investigating polymetallic nodules, hydrothermal vents, and benthic biodiversity in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Concurrently, national ocean governance operates within international legal frameworks defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, balancing marine resource extraction, coastal ocean current dynamics, bathymetric cartography, and sustainable Blue Economy development.

Prescribed Topics & Learning Modules

Public Sample Quizzes & Solved Questions

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Question 1Deep Ocean Mission, Samudrayaan & Submersibles
easy

What is the name of India's indigenous human-occupied deep submersible vehicle developed under the Samudrayaan project to carry a 3-person crew to a depth of 6,000 metres?

Question 2UNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
easy

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), what is the maximum breadth of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) measured from a coastal state's baseline?

Question 3Ocean Currents, Bathymetry & Marine Ecology
easy

Due to the Coriolis force caused by the Earth's planetary rotation, moving ocean surface currents are deflected in which direction in the Northern Hemisphere?

Question 4Deep Ocean Mission, Samudrayaan & Submersibles
medium

Which autonomous oceanographic engineering institute located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, functions as the lead agency engineering the Samudrayaan manned submersible?

Question 5Ocean Currents, Bathymetry & Marine Ecology
medium

What unique hydrographic characteristic distinguishes the North Indian Ocean's surface circulation from that of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?

Question 6UNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
medium

Under UNCLOS provisions, what is the maximum breadth of a sovereign coastal state's 'Territorial Sea' measured outward from its baseline?

Question 7UNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
medium

Where is the headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the autonomous UNCLOS-established body that regulates mineral-related activities in the international seabed area?

Question 8Deep Ocean Mission, Samudrayaan & Submersibles
hard

In deep ocean basins, 'polymetallic nodules' (manganese nodules) are considered strategic mineral resources primarily because they contain high concentrations of which critical transition metals in addition to manganese and iron?

Question 9Ocean Currents, Bathymetry & Marine Ecology
hard

Which was the first designated Marine National Park in India, established in 1982 to protect coral reefs, mangroves, and diverse marine intertidal ecosystems?

Question 10UNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
hard

Under UNCLOS Article 33, what is the maximum permissible outer limit for a coastal state's 'Contiguous Zone' to enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws?

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