22th August 2025 (18 Topics)

Copy

1 Aug

2 Aug

4 Aug

5 Aug

6 Aug

7 Aug

8 Aug

9 Aug

11 Aug

12 Aug

13 Aug

14 Aug

15 Aug

16 Aug

18 Aug

19 Aug

20 Aug

21 Aug

22 Aug

23 Aug

Deep-Sea Mineral Exploration India

Context:

India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) holds two seabed mineral exploration contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in the Indian Ocean.

Deep-Sea Mineral Exploration India

Nodal Agency: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
Exploration Contracts with ISA:
- Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) – Contract signed in 2002; allocated area of 75,000 sq. km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
  - Estimated reserve: 366 million metric tons (MMT).
  - Average grade: Copper (1.09%), Nickel (1.14%), Cobalt (0.14%).
- Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) – Contract signed in 2016; allocated area of 10,000 sq. km in the South-West Indian Ocean Ridge.
  - Contains Copper, Zinc, Lead, Iron, Silver, Gold, etc.
  - Active and inactive hydrothermal vents identified.
Stage of Activity:
- Currently limited to exploration only.
- Deep-sea mining not yet permitted as ISA regulations for exploitation are pending.

International Seabed Authority (ISA):

Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica.
Legal Basis & Jurisdiction:
- Established under UNCLOS (1982) and operational since 1994.
- Governs the “Area”, i.e., seabed and ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction (?54% of oceans).
- Resources in this Area are considered “Common Heritage of Mankind.”
Membership & Structure:
- 168 Member States + European Union.
- Automatic membership upon ratifying UNCLOS.
- Organs: Assembly, Council, Legal & Technical Commission, Finance Committee, Secretariat.
Mandate:
- Regulate exploration & exploitation of seabed minerals (e.g., polymetallic nodules, sulphides, cobalt crusts).
- Ensure environmental protection from deep-sea mining activities.
- Promote marine scientific research & technology transfer.
- Distribute financial/economic benefits equitably among states.
Major Initiatives:
- Marine Scientific Research Action Plan – linked with UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030).
- Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative (SSKI) – aims to catalogue >1,000 deep-sea species.
- Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) – spatial planning tools for sustainable seabed mining. First developed for Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ); others under development for Indian Ocean, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, NW Pacific.
India & ISA:
- India is an active member with exploration rights in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodules.
- Supports India’s Deep Ocean Mission and Blue Economy goals.

Custodial Violence and Judicial Reasoning

Polity & Governance

Electoral Rolls and Party Responsibility

Polity & Governance

Reinventing Vocational Training System

Polity & Governance

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025

Polity & Governance

Cultural Mapping of Rural India

Art and culture

Gyan Bharatam Manuscript Mission

Art and culture

C-Flood Unified Forecasting System

Polity & Governance

Kerala Declared Fully Digitally Literate

Polity & Governance

Poorvottar Vikas Setu Portal

Polity & Governance

Mission Mausamand Project Mausam

Polity & Governance

Centre Proposes Two-Rate GST

Economy

New Law for Nuclear Safety

Economy

Circular Economy for Batteries

Ecology and Environment

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Commissioning

Science & Technology

India’s Roadmap for 6G

Science & Technology

Khelo India Water Sports Festival

Miscellaneous Sports

India–Sri Lanka Naval Exercise

Miscellaneous

GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Deep-Sea Mineral Exploration India