For a nation as vast and diverse as ours, the journey to becoming a developed country, ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, requires us to look at every resource, including those hitherto unexplored under-explored, and every available opportunity – particularly, when the ambitious goal is to move up the ladder from Economy Rank 4 to Rank 1. For decades, our focus has been primarily harnessing the potential of our land resources. We have built highways, expanded the railway network, developed industries, and cultivated our fields.

But as we stand in this pivotal period of our history, the Amrit Kaal, we recognize that our greatest untapped resource lies not just on land, but in the vast blue ocean that surrounds our country. The Blue Economy is more than just another sector, it is our new exclusive frontier for growth, a pathway to prosperity, sustainability, and national strength. It is also recognized as a key focus pillar within India’s vision of Viksit Bharat. It is a broad and powerful concept that includes everything from traditional activities such as fisheries, ports, and shipping to cutting-edge new fields such as marine biotechnology, eco-tourism, renewable ocean energy, and deep-sea exploration.

Advertisement

The Blue Economy defines it as “comprising the entire system of ocean resources and man-made economic infrastructure in marine, maritime and onshore coastal zones within India’s legal jurisdiction, aiding the production of goods and services with clear linkages to economic growth, environmental sustainability and national security”. With a revised coastline stretching now over 11,098 kilometers and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone spanning 2 .4 square million kilometers, India is exceptionally........

© The Statesman