CSIR-NIO Shore-Based Lab Inaugurated in Visakhapatnam | 04 Feb 2026

Why in News?

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences,Dr. Jitendra Singh, recently inaugurated the Shore-Based Laboratory of the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Regional Centre at Visakhapatnam.

Key Points: 

• Infrastructure: Built at a cost of ₹32 crore by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the state-of-the-art facility covers 4,550 square metres on a 4-acre campus  located in Yendada village, Rushikonda. 
• Regional Mandate: The lab will focus on systematic marine geological and geophysical surveys of the Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI). 
• Strategic Research: It aims to map bathymetry and identify resource potential for hydrocarbons, seabed minerals, oil, and natural gas, influenced by sediment deposits from Himalayan river systems. 
• Sectors Supported: The centre collaborates with stakeholders like ONGC and Oil India to support pharmaceuticals, ports, thermal power, and the fisheries sector.  
• Significance for the Blue Economy:The lab will project tropical cyclone tracks and forecast harmful algal blooms to protect coastal livelihoods. 
  • Self-Reliance: By exploring deep-sea resources, it strengthens India’s energy security and supports the national Blue Economy vision.