India's blue economy aids the production of goods & services that have clear linkages with economic growth, he said

India’s future growth depends on science driven economy, Union Minister of State Science & TechnologyJitendra Singh has said.

Addressing an interactive session on “Role of Research Technology & Start-ups in Blue Economy” on Monday, Singh said that science and technology was going to be the main currency for the inclusive growth of India.

India’s blue economy is understood as a subset of the national economy comprising an entire ocean resources system and human-made economic infrastructure in marine, maritime, and onshore coastal zones within the country’s legal jurisdiction.

According to an official press release, he said it aids the production of goods and services that have clear linkages with economic growth, environmental sustainability, and national security.

The blue economy is a vast socio-economic opportunity for coastal nations like India to utilize ocean resources for societal benefit responsibly, the Minister added.

Singh pointed out that with its vast scientific acumen and natural resources, the Ministry of Earth Science has been catering to various needs of common people ranging from agro-meteorological services to conversion of salt water into sweet water through indigenous technology.

In the times to come, the Minister said, marine pollution is going to pose a formidable challenge and denudation of the coast will add to the erosion of the coastal land.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences had developed an innovative technology from the coast of Pondicherry and it can be strengthened in further areas as well,.MoS Singh added.