Context:
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has launched “NIRMAL Sagar”, a clean-ocean initiative to track marine litter in the Indian Ocean Region. It uses ocean modelling, satellite remote sensing and AI/ML tools to identify litter hotspots and forecast debris movement.

Explanation:
- Marine litter refers to human-made waste such as plastics, fishing nets, packaging material and microplastics entering seas and oceans.
- It harms marine biodiversity, coral reefs, fisheries, coastal tourism, navigation and human health through the food chain.
- INCOIS, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, provides ocean information services, early warnings and marine advisories.
- The initiative combines remote sensing, ocean currents, wind patterns, artificial intelligence, machine learning and ocean modelling.
- It will help in hotspot mapping, clean-up planning, debris movement forecasting and marine pollution mitigation.
- It supports India’s Blue Economy, SDG 14: Life Below Water, coastal zone management and World Ocean Day objectives.
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