Ministry Of Earth Sciences Drives Dialogue On AI For Oceans At India AI Impact Summit 2026
The Ministry of Earth Sciences led a high level discussion on Artificial Intelligence and ocean governance at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The session, titled AI for Our Oceans of Tomorrow: Data, Models and Governance, formed part of the summit held from 16 to 20 February 2026.
Through this platform, the Ministry brought together senior government officials, international dignitaries, scientists, industry leaders, start ups and financial experts. Together, they examined how Artificial Intelligence can strengthen ocean governance, disaster resilience, marine livelihoods and Blue Economy growth in India.
AI To Strengthen Ocean Governance And Climate Response
Delivering the keynote address, Dr M Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department, stressed the vital role oceans play in climate regulation, disaster risk reduction, food security and livelihoods. He highlighted India’s national strengths in ocean observation, cyclone forecasting, marine data systems and early warning services.
Moreover, he noted that technological advancements have significantly reduced the loss of life during extreme weather events. He emphasised the need for data driven and AI enabled models to complement traditional physical models. This approach, he explained, becomes particularly important as climate change intensifies ocean warming, acidification and sea level rise.
He also highlighted the Deep Ocean Mission as a flagship national initiative. The mission focuses on deep sea exploration, offshore energy, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Therefore, AI integration can further enhance the mission’s outcomes and long term impact.
India Norway Cooperation And Digital Ocean Framework
Addressing the session, Norway’s Ambassador to India, Ms May Elin Stener, underlined the growing cooperation between India and Norway in oceans and the Blue Economy. She stated that AI can improve fisheries management, shipping efficiency, port operations and coastal resilience when supported by open and interoperable digital systems.
Furthermore, she pointed out that India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure positions the country to shape a global digital ocean framework. Such a framework, built on open data, shared standards and responsible governance, can benefit both India and the wider global community.
India Positioned To Lead Global South In Ocean AI
During the panel discussion, experts from government, academia, industry and international institutions agreed that India holds a unique position to lead the Global South. They proposed the development of a Digital Ocean Infrastructure that integrates open data, AI driven intelligence and strong governance frameworks.
Panellists observed that AI can scale marine livelihoods, reduce operational costs and support timely decision making across Blue Economy sectors. However, they also acknowledged that oceans remain complex and data scarce. Therefore, they called for physics informed AI and physical intelligence models to address these challenges.
In addition, they emphasised the need for international cooperation, interoperable systems and shared digital public goods. With supportive policies, blended finance and risk sharing mechanisms, they concluded that the Blue Economy can emerge as a sustainable engine of growth, generating employment and investment across India and the Global South.
Concluding the session, Dr Cdr P K Srivastava, Scientist G and Adviser at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building a structured pathway for AI integration across ocean related programmes.
