The Ministry of Earth Sciences is exploring seabed minerals like polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides beyond national jurisdiction in the Indian Ocean under contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has designed a deep-sea bed mining system for sustainable harvesting of polymetallic nodules from depths up to 5500 m, and developed a remotely operable submersible (ROSUB 6000), remotely operable in-situ soil testing equipment, and the manned submersible MATSYA 6000. In 2002, the Ministry signed a contract with the ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules in an area of 75,000 sq. km. in the Indian Ocean. Exploration activities follow the ISA-approved plan of work, including Survey and Exploration, Environmental Impact Assessment, Mining Technology development, and Metallurgical process development. All countries with ISA contracts are developing deep seabed mining technology and drafting exploitation regulations for ISA deep seabed minerals. Release ID: 2202356, Visitor Count: 328. The original text was published on December 11 2025, at 4:42 PM by PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
International Seabed Authority (ISA): UN body under United Nations on the Convention of the Law of the Sea responsible for contracts related to exploration of polymetallic nodules.
Indian Ocean: Location where Ministry is carrying out exploration activities beyond national jurisdiction for seabed minerals.
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT): Autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences that designed a deep-sea bed mining system.
Ministry of Earth Sciences: Ministry carrying out exploration activities for polymetallic nodules in the Indian Ocean.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EXPLOITING
POTENTIAL OF POLYMETALLIC NODULES
प्रव तथ: 11 DEC 2025 4:42PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry is only carrying out exploration activities beyond national jurisdiction in the Indian Ocean for
seabed minerals like polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides based on the signed contracts with
the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an UN body under United Nations on the Convention of the
Law of the Sea. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous Institute under the
Ministry of Earth Sciences has designed a deep-sea bed mining system aiming at sustainable harvesting of
polymetallic nodules from depths of up to 5500 m. A remotely operable submersible (ROSUB 6000) and a
remotely operable in-situ soil testing equipment was also developed. NIOT has also designed the manned
submersible namely MATSYA 6000.
Ministry signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority for exploration of polymetallic nodules
in the allotted area of 75,000 sq. km. in the Indian Ocean during 2002. The exploration activities are
undertaken following the approved plan of work by the ISA which includes Survey and Exploration,
Environmental Impact Assessment, Development of Mining Technology and Metallurgical process
development.
All the countries having contracts with ISA are now involved in developing the deep seabed mining
technology. Further, all nations are involved in drafting exploitation regulations of ISA for deep seabed
minerals.
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