What Happened
- The Union Budget 2026-27 positions the Eastern Coastal Region as central to India's nuclear and marine development roadmap
- Odisha has been designated as one of four states to host a Rare Earth Corridor, alongside Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh
- Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined a comprehensive strategy integrating the Deep Ocean Mission, rare earth and nuclear resource expansion, fisheries reforms in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the proposed Bio-E3 Cell for Odisha
- A proposal for establishing a Department of Biotechnology (DBT) centre in Odisha was discussed, with the state government facilitating land allocation
- Policy support for deep sea fishing within India's EEZ was highlighted as a potential game-changer for coastal communities
Static Topic Bridges
Deep Ocean Mission (2021)
India's Deep Ocean Mission was approved by the Cabinet in June 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs 4,077 crore over five years, implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The mission aims to develop technologies for exploring deep ocean resources, promoting sustainable marine development, and supporting the Blue Economy initiative. Its flagship component, Samudrayaan, involves the development of a manned submersible (Matsya 6000) capable of carrying three persons to a depth of 6,000 metres with scientific sensors for deep-sea exploration.
- Six major components: (1) Manned submersible development (Samudrayaan/Matsya 6000), (2) Deep-sea biodiversity exploration, (3) Mining polymetallic nodules, (4) Ocean climate advisory services, (5) Marine station for ocean biology research, (6) Advanced ocean observation systems using underwater sensors and AI
- Budget 2025-26 allocation for Samudrayaan: Rs 600 crore; Ministry of Earth Sciences total allocation: ~Rs 3,650 crore
- India has been allocated 75,000 sq km in the Central Indian Ocean by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for polymetallic nodule exploration
- Polymetallic nodules contain manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements at depths of 4,000-6,000 metres
Connection to this news: The eastern coastal focus in Budget 2026 extends the Deep Ocean Mission's scope by linking deep-sea resource exploration with fisheries reforms and enabling infrastructure in states like Odisha, creating an integrated marine economy framework.
Rare Earth Elements — Strategic Significance and India's Reserves
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements (15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium) critical for high-technology applications including permanent magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles, defence systems, smartphones, and semiconductor manufacturing. China currently controls approximately 60% of global rare earth mine production and over 90% of refined rare earth processing, creating a strategic vulnerability for other nations. India holds approximately 6% of global rare earth reserves (the 5th largest), concentrated primarily in coastal heavy mineral sand deposits along the eastern and southern coasts.
- Four Rare Earth Corridors announced in Budget 2026-27: Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh
- Rs 7,280 crore Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) Manufacturing Scheme approved in November 2025
- India's rare earth reserves: primarily monazite-bearing beach sands along coastal regions
- Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, is the primary entity for rare earth mining in India
- IREL operates processing units at Aluva (Kerala), Manavalakurichi (Tamil Nadu), and Chatrapur (Odisha)
- Monazite is classified as a "prescribed substance" under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, because it contains thorium
Connection to this news: Odisha's selection as one of four Rare Earth Corridor states is strategic given its existing monazite-bearing coastal deposits and the IREL facility at Chatrapur. The corridor approach integrates mining, processing, research, and manufacturing into a single industrial zone, supporting India's goal of reducing dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies.
India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Maritime Zones
India's Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200 nautical miles from its baseline, covering approximately 2.02 million sq km of ocean area. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982), which India ratified in 1995, the coastal state has sovereign rights for exploration and exploitation of natural resources — both living (fisheries) and non-living (minerals, oil, gas) — within its EEZ. India's Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (updated 2023) provides the domestic legal framework for these zones.
- India's coastline: approximately 7,516 km (including islands)
- India's EEZ: approximately 2.02 million sq km
- India's continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm in certain areas; a claim was submitted to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)
- UNCLOS signed: 1982 at Montego Bay, Jamaica; entered into force: 1994; India ratified: 1995
- Maritime zones (from coast outward): Internal Waters → Territorial Sea (12 nm) → Contiguous Zone (24 nm) → EEZ (200 nm) → Continental Shelf
Connection to this news: The enabling provisions for deep sea fishing within India's EEZ, highlighted as a "game-changer" for eastern coastal communities, aim to unlock the economic potential of India's vast marine zone, which remains significantly under-exploited compared to the country's inland fisheries output.
Key Facts & Data
- Deep Ocean Mission approved: June 2021; budget: Rs 4,077 crore over 5 years
- Four Rare Earth Corridors: Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh
- REPM Manufacturing Scheme: Rs 7,280 crore (approved November 2025)
- India's rare earth reserves: ~6% of global total (5th largest)
- China's rare earth dominance: ~60% mine production, >90% refining
- India's EEZ: ~2.02 million sq km; coastline: ~7,516 km
- India allocated 75,000 sq km in Central Indian Ocean by ISA for polymetallic nodule exploration
- Matsya 6000 submersible: designed for 6,000 m depth with 3-person crew