PIB class: PIB Backgrounder. Unit: PIB feature unit.
Why in News
PIB published a thematic Backgrounder titled Fueling the Blue Economy.
Core facts (static, definitional)
- The Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, livelihoods and jobs, while preserving ocean ecosystem health. It covers fisheries, shipping, ports, coastal tourism, marine minerals and marine renewable energy.
- Governing frame: India’s draft Blue Economy policy treats the ocean as the sixth dimension of national growth alongside land based sectors.
- Release specific figures: Not verifiable this run and therefore omitted.
Static Context
- The Deep Ocean Mission is India’s flagship ocean programme. It funds deep sea exploration, a manned submersible named Samudrayaan, and survey of sea bed minerals and biodiversity. The nodal body is the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- The Sagarmala Programme drives port led growth. It links port modernisation, coastal shipping and inland waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
- The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana supports fisheries. It targets higher fish production, aquaculture and fisher incomes.
- India holds a large maritime footprint. It has a coastline of about 11,000 kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone of about 2 million square kilometres, which anchors the Blue Economy potential.
Prelims angle
The definition of the Blue Economy. Deep Ocean Mission and Samudrayaan under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Sagarmala under the shipping ministry. The Exclusive Economic Zone extending to 200 nautical miles under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass.
Mains angle
GS3, conservation and economy, and GS1 geography, ocean resources. Balancing marine resource extraction with ocean ecosystem health, and the Blue Economy as a driver of coastal livelihoods.
Matching Previous Year Question
“[2026] Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India: I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure. II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings. III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions. Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct? 1. Statement II validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in Statement I. 2. Statement III extends the objectives of Statement I by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation framework. 3. Statement I contradicts Statement III by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation. Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only. Answer: (b)”
“[2014, GS1, 10 marks] Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.”
