India Positions AI as Game-Changer for Ocean Governance and Blue Economy

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, convened a high-level panel discussion on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in ocean science and governance during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

The session, titled "AI for Our Oceans of Tomorrow: Data, Models and Governance," brought together senior government leaders, international partners, scientists, industry experts, start-ups and finance specialists to explore how AI can strengthen India's ocean resilience, marine livelihoods and Blue Economy growth.

Experts agreed that AI-driven ocean intelligence could become a critical national asset — supporting disaster preparedness, sustainable fisheries, coastal development and climate adaptation.

Oceans Central to Climate, Livelihoods and Disaster Resilience

Delivering the keynote address, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dr. M. Mohapatra, emphasized the oceans' vital role in regulating climate, sustaining food security and protecting communities from extreme weather.

He highlighted India's growing national capabilities in:

• Ocean observation systems

• Cyclone forecasting

• Marine data platforms

• Early warning and disaster response services

Dr. Mohapatra noted that technological advances have significantly reduced loss of life from cyclones and coastal disasters in recent decades.

He stressed that AI-enabled, data-driven models must now complement traditional physical ocean and climate models, particularly as climate change accelerates challenges such as:

• Ocean warming

• Acidification

• Sea-level rise

The keynote also spotlighted India's flagship Deep Ocean Mission, focused on deep-sea exploration, offshore energy, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

Norway Highlights Digital Ocean Cooperation

India's expanding international partnerships in ocean governance were underscored by Her Excellency Ms. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India.

She pointed to the growing India–Norway cooperation in oceans and the Blue Economy, noting AI's potential to improve:

• Fisheries management

• Shipping efficiency

• Port operations

• Coastal resilience planning

Madam Stener emphasized that AI systems must be built on open, interoperable and trusted digital foundations, arguing that India's leadership in digital public infrastructure positions it well to shape a global digital ocean framework.

Such a framework, based on open data, shared standards and responsible governance, could benefit both India and the wider international community.

India's Opportunity to Lead the Global South

During the expert panel discussion, participants agreed that India is uniquely positioned to lead the Global South in developing a Digital Ocean Infrastructure that integrates:

• Open marine data ecosystems

• AI-driven intelligence

• Robust governance and accountability frameworks

AI was seen as essential for scaling Blue Economy sectors by enabling:

• Faster and more accurate decision-making

• Reduced operational costs for marine industries

• Expanded livelihood opportunities for coastal communities

• Smarter resource management

However, experts cautioned that oceans remain one of the most complex and data-scarce domains, requiring advances in physics-informed AI and "physical intelligence" that can operate effectively even with limited datasets.

Progress will depend on stronger international cooperation, interoperable systems and shared digital public goods reflecting the transboundary nature of oceans.

Blue Economy as a Long-Term Growth Engine

The panel highlighted that with supportive policies, data liquidity, blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms, India's Blue Economy could become a major sustainable growth driver.

AI-enabled ocean systems were linked to future opportunities in:

• Employment generation

• Climate-resilient infrastructure

• Sustainable marine industries

• Global investment partnerships

Experts noted that building digital ocean governance now could unlock large-scale economic benefits while protecting marine ecosystems.

MoES Commitment to Structured AI Integration

The session concluded with remarks from Dr. (Cdr) P. K. Srivastava, Scientist G and Adviser at MoES, who reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to building a clear national pathway for integrating AI across ocean-related programmes.

The discussion positioned AI not only as a technological tool, but as a strategic enabler for India's future ocean governance, climate resilience and Blue Economy leadership.