This Draft Policy could be called the “National Policy for India’s Blue Economy – 2020”. The Government of India should evaluate, analyze, review and change this draft policy as it deems fit. For the purpose of this chapter, it will be referred to as the “Policy”. The Ministry of Earth Sciences will be the Nodal Ministry for the administration of the Policy.
The draft Policy aims to significantly enhance the contribution of the Blue Economy to India’s GDP in the next five years, improve lives of coastal communities, preserve our marine biodiversity and maintain the security of our marine areas and resources. Today, the Blue Economy holds the promise of being the next multiplier of economic growth and well-being, provided that the strategy places sustainability and socio- economic welfare at the centre stage. Therefore, the proposed roadmap for evolving a Blue Economy Policy would be a crucial step towards unlocking the potential of economic growth and welfare.