Where did India achieve a breakthrough in its Deep Ocean Mission, sending an aquanaut to a depth of 5,002 metres, the deepest human dive ever undertaken by the nation, in August 2025?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) North Atlantic Ocean, aboard the French submersible Nautile
Explanation:
. On 6 August 2025, Indian aquanaut Jatinder Pal Singh dived to 5,002m in North Atlantic using French submersible Nautile as part of Deep Ocean Mission.
. This Indo-French collaboration under NIOT marked India's deepest manned submersible dive, building expertise for indigenous Matsya 6000.
. Preceded by 4,025m dive by another aquanaut; advances deep-sea exploration for minerals and biodiversity.
Information Booster:
. Part of Rs 4,077 crore Deep Ocean Mission launched 2021.
. Targets polymetallic nodules from Central Indian Ocean Basin.
. PIB confirmed Union Minister Jitendra Singh's praise for the milestone.
Additional Knowledge:
Bay of Bengal, near the Sundarbans (Option b)
. Shallow deltaic region unsuitable for deep dives.
. No such mission recorded there.
Southern Indian Ocean, near the Maldives (Option c)
. Future exploration areas but not 2025 record site.
. Maldives EEZ surveyed separately.
Indian Ocean, off the coast of Chennai (Option d)
. NIOT headquarters for coastal trials only.
. Deep dives require abyssal plains, not continental shelf.