VISIT TO NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY

I touch and salute the Holy Feet of Bharat Mata – the Most Powerful and the Most Merciful. Bharat Mata Ki jai!

Dignitaries sharing the dais with me, Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju Ji; Director, CSIR-NIO, Goa, Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh Ji; and other dignitaries.

Today is an important day as we all celebrate Goa Statehood Day, I am glad to be visiting the National Institute of Oceanography on this historic day. I have visited the various departments of the Institute today and also saw the research and technology exhibits displayed in the Institute.

For Bharat, whose coastline is around 11,000 kilometres ocean is a living ecosystem to respect and protect. Our seas are not boundaries that separate us from the world; they are bridges that connect us to global trade, energy security, economic prosperity, and strategic strength. For centuries, the Indian Ocean has shaped India’s civilisation. Ancient Indian traders, scholars, and navigators crossed these waters to build cultural and economic ties with distant lands. Even today, nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume moves through the seas. That is why, understanding our oceans is important to safeguard the lifeline of our economy. Scientific progress must be guided by compassion, sustainability, and responsibility.

Friends, today the world faces grave challenges – Climate change, rising sea levels, marine pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Coastal communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Oceanography is now about protecting humanity’s future. In this area, institutions like C.S.I.R. -National Institute of Oceanography are doing extraordinary service to the nation. For nearly six decades, this Institute has stood as one of India’s finest scientific institutions. Through your research, innovation, and exploration, you are helping Bharat become more self-reliant, and future-ready.

I also appreciate the Government’s efforts under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shriman Narendra Modi Ji in signing the Memorandum of Understanding between C.S.I.R. and the Research Council of Norway to promote research, innovation, technology development, and capacity building. During Hon’ble PM’s recent visit to Norway, CSIR institutes and SINTEF signed project agreements on ocean and offshore wind energy, benefiting the National Institute of Oceanography. The C.S.I.R. funding support for various projects under this programme is around 340 lakhs rupees. I wish you all great success in the scientific endeavours you are all going to embark upon.

India today is moving confidently towards becoming a Viksit Bharat. But development cannot come at the cost of nature. The ocean is a resource to exploit. It is a living ecosystem to respect and protect. The growing menace of microplastics, pollution, and climate imbalance reminds us that humanity cannot survive if nature suffers. And in this journey, oceanography will play a crucial role in building a sustainable, secure, and prosperous future.

Friends, when I walked through your laboratories and witnessed your pioneering work, I felt immense pride. At a time when there are future challenges facing humanity, the National Institute of Oceanography gives us confidence that Bharat is not waiting for solutions from elsewhere. We are creating solutions for the world. Our Deep Ocean Mission, Blue Economy initiatives, Green Hydrogen Mission, and renewable energy partnerships reflect a Nation that is thinking boldly about the future.

The oceans may appear calm on the surface, but beneath them lies a world of immense depth, mystery, and untapped potential. Human life is no different. Many times, young minds underestimate their own potential because they cannot immediately see the greatness within themselves. But I am certain the next revolutionary climate solution will emerge from one of you sitting here today. Perhaps the next breakthrough in marine biotechnology, renewable energy, or ocean conservation will come from your research. Or perhaps one among you will lead India’s future missions into the deepest oceans of the world.

I urge you all to dream fearlessly and work tirelessly. Let your ambition be larger than your limitations. The waves of the Arabian Sea that touch the shores of Goa should remind you every day that movement is life. The ocean never stands still. Neither should human progress. Let CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography continue to illuminate the path of scientific excellence for Bharat and the world. And let every young mind here believe that they have the power to change the future of this nation. Thank you for your dedication, your service, and your commitment to Bharat.

Jai Hind!
Jai Goa!
Long Live Mother Bharat!