Earlier this month, the country submitted an application to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) in Jamaica, seeking rights to explore two expansive tracts in the Indian Ocean seabed, which lie beyond its jurisdiction.

In a video interview, Rijiju said India's deep-ocean submersible Matsya6000, which will take humans up to a depth of 6,000 metres under the sea, was "well on course" and could be tested by the "end of this year".