During 1999-2000 all efforts were made to promote the progressive use of Hindi in the Department. The meetings of Official Language Implementation Committee were held regularly under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary.

The annual report, performance budget, Demands for grants, all Cabinet reports, monthly summary to Cabinet and documents to be presented to the Parliament Consultative and Standing Committees etc., were prepared bilingually.

The year-long celebrations on Fiftieth Year of Hindi as Official Language started in the Department from 14th Sept. 1999. Hindi fortnight was organised by the Department from 14th Sept. to 28th Sept. 1999. During the fortnight, Hindi essay writing, typing, noting and drafting and debate competitions were held. About 50 employees participated in it. Secretary Department of Ocean Development gave away prizes and certificates to the winners. The Department also organised a Kavi Goshti on 28th Sept. 1999 in which about 8 Poets of national repute enthralled the audience. 75% of the total correspondence is being done in Hindi. All the Officers and employees of the Dept. Have proficiency/working knowledge of Hindi. Under the Indira Gandhi Rajbasha Puraskar Scheme of Rajbhasha Vibhag (Department of Official Languages) for 1998-99, the Department was awarded the first prize in recognition of the outstanding performance of the Department in promotion and implementation of Hindi in its day to day official work.

The Department organised the Eighth National Scientific Hindi Seminar on Ocean Information Services - "Samudra Suchana Seva" at the Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi on 15th February 2000. Shri D.N. Tewari, Member (Science), Planning Commission was the Chief Guest on the occasion while Shri Ashok Kumar, Secretary, Department of Official Languages graced the ceremony as a special guest. A total of 13 speakers from various national laboratories and universities presented their technical papers in the official language while 2 others spoke of the status of scientific publications in Hindi. Dr. P.K. Goswami (C-MMACS, Bangalore), Dr. A. Narendranath (INCOIS, Hyderabad) and Shri G. Rajesh (NIOT, Chennai) received the first, second and third prize of Rs.5000/-, Rs.3000/- and Rs. 2000/- respectively for non- Hindi participants. A book on Polymetallic Nodules published in Hindi by the Department was released on this occasion.