**Summary:**
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal agency for deep-sea mineral exploration in India and holds two seabed exploration contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in the Indian Ocean. The first contract, signed in 2002, pertains to the exploration of Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) in a 75,000 sq. km area of the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Survey and exploration activities have estimated 366 million metric tons (MMT) of nodules within this area, containing grades of Copper (1.09%), Nickel (1.14%), and Cobalt (0.14%). The second contract, signed in 2016, covers the exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) in a 10,000 sq. km area of the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge. Activities in this area have focused on identifying active and inactive sulphide vents. The Ministry's seabed mineral exploration activities, encompassing survey, exploration, environmental impact assessment, and technology development for mining and metallurgical extraction, are executed according to plans approved by the ISA. Current activities are limited to the exploration stage, as regulations for the exploitation of seabed mineral resources have not been finalized and adopted by the ISA. Expert committees formed by the Ministry regularly review PMN and PMS exploration activities. This information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a statement to the Rajya Sabha. The initial statement prompting this response originated from the Secretary General of the ISA during an event in February 2023 at Gujarat Maritime Law University, Gandhinagar.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The nodal agency for deep sea mineral exploration in India.
International Seabed Authority (ISA): An international organization that regulates seabed mineral exploration and exploitation.
Polymetallic Nodules (PMN): A type of seabed mineral deposit containing precious metals like copper, nickel, and cobalt.
Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS): A type of seabed mineral deposit containing valuable metals like copper, zinc, lead, iron, silver, and gold.
Central Indian Ocean Basin: An area in the Indian Ocean where exploration for Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) is being conducted.
SouthWest Indian Ocean Ridge: An area in the Indian Ocean where exploration for Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) is being conducted.
Gujarat Maritime Law University, Gandhinagar: A university in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India where the Secretary General of ISA made a statement.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: MINERALS FOUND IN
THE INDIAN OCEAN
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 6:29PM by PIB Delhi
The referred matter is a statement made by Secretary General of ISA before media and press in an event
during February 2023 at Gujarat Maritime Law University, Gandhinagar. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
being the nodal agency for deep sea mineral exploration have two seabed mineral exploration contracts with
the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in the Indian Ocean. The first seabed exploration contractfor
Polymetallic nodules (PMN) was signed in 2002 for exploration in an allocated area of 75000 sq. km in the
Central Indian Ocean Basin and another for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) in the South-West
Indian Ocean Ridge signed in 2016 in an allocated area of 10,000 sq. km.
PMN contains precious metals like copper, nickel and cobalt and PMS contain valuable metals like copper,
zinc, lead, iron, silver and gold etc. Ministry has only undertaken survey for PMN mineral resource estimation
in 75,000 sq. km contract area allocated by ISA. Based on the survey and exploration, Ministry has estimated
nodules present in the contract area as 366 million metric tons (MMT). The grade of the nodules in our
contract area contains Copper 1.09%, Nickel 1.14% and Cobalt 0.14%. In the PMS contract area location of
active and inactive sulphide vents are identified. The seabed mineral exploration activities are executed
following an approved plan of work by ISA under the contracts covering survey & exploration, environmental
impact assessment, technology development for mining and metallurgical extraction process. Presently, the
seabed mineral activities regulated by the ISA is limited to exploration stage only.
The PMN and PMS exploration activities are regularly reviewed by the expert committees formed by the
Ministry. The deep-sea mining is not permitted as of now, as the regulations for exploitation of seabed
mineral resources has not yet been finalised and adopted by ISA.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in an oral reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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NKR/PSM/AV
(Release ID: 2159345)