Deep Ocean Mission: Blue Frontier

The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) aims to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop "Deep sea technologies" for sustainable use.

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What are the key technical and exploration components of the Deep Ocean Mission?	Approved by the Cabinet in June 2021; nodal ministry is the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES); total outlay ~₹4,077 crore over 2021-26 (Phase-I: ~₹2,823 crore for the first 3 years). Manned Submersible: "Matsya 6000," developed under the Samudrayaan sub-mission, to carry 3 people to a depth of 6,000 meters. Polymetallic Nodules (PMN): exploring for Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, and Manganese in the Central Indian Ocean Basin; India also explores Cobalt-rich crusts at the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount. Ocean Climate: study of sea-level rise and climate change impacts.
What is the global significance of this mission and which international body regulates it?	India is among the few nations (USA, Russia, China, France, Japan) with this capability. ISA (International Seabed Authority): provides the license for high-seas exploration; India holds a 15-year contract (since 2002, renewed 2017) for a ~75,000 sq. km PMN exploration area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
Summarize the final goal and way forward for the Deep Ocean Mission.	- Success lies in moving from "Surface-level" to "Abyssal-Saturated & Tech-Verified Deep Saturation."