Observations in Polar Regions are essential for understanding changing climate. This article provides insights into how a floating laboratory—the Polar Research Vessel, is designed and built to meet the mission requirements of scientific users.

The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), approved by the Government of India in 2021 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), represents a strategic step in realizing Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14: Life Below Water)1 and advancing the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. In this episode of GnY Live, we participate in a discussion with Dr. M. Ravichandra, Secretary to the Government of India for the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The conversation presents insights highlighting the overarching framework, technological advancements, and policy implications of the Deep Ocean Mission. Structured around its six thematic components, the discussion foregrounds India’s indigenously developed submersible (Matsya 6000), ocean climate services, biodiversity mapping and non-living exploration, water and energy from the ocean, and marine biotechnology initiatives. It provides analytical clarity on the mission’s role in augmenting the Blue Economy, addressing environmental risks, and situating India within the global deep-ocean research landscape. The discussion concludes by noting the Deep Ocean Mission’s contribution to sustainable marine resource utilization and its alignment with national developmental priorities.