- Why in news
- On 8 September 2026, MoES and NIOT, with EY and NITI Aayog, held an industry outreach workshop on deep sea mining in New Delhi, ahead of a White Paper and policy frameworks.
- What it is
- Deep sea mining means extracting polymetallic nodules, sulphides and crusts from the seabed. In India it sits under the Deep Ocean Mission, a Blue Economy programme led by MoES, with NIOT building the technology. Mining in international waters is governed by the International Seabed Authority under UNCLOS.
- ISA nodule contract area
- India holds an ISA exploration contract over 75,000 sq. km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, estimated at 366 to 380 million tonnes of nodules.
- Polymetallic sulphides
- India is the first nation to hold two exploration contracts for polymetallic sulphides, including the recent one for the Carlsberg Ridge.
- Deep Ocean Mission outlay
- The national Deep Ocean Mission has an outlay of ₹4,077 crore. NIOT has demonstrated indigenous mining crawler systems at depths beyond 5,000 metres.
- Exploitation Code
- Commercial mining of nodules in international waters can begin only after the ISA issues the Exploitation Code.
- ISA
- The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous body set up under UNCLOS, headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica. It regulates mineral activities in the Area, the seabed beyond national jurisdiction.
Don’t confuse with Polymetallic nodules vs sulphides: Nodules lie on abyssal plains, as in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Sulphides form at hydrothermal vents on ridges such as the Carlsberg Ridge.
Don’t confuse with EEZ vs the Area: The EEZ is under coastal state jurisdiction. The Area is the seabed beyond national jurisdiction and is regulated by the ISA.
Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Reduces import dependence for nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese needed for clean energy and electric mobility.
- Builds a mine-to-metal chain across offshore engineering, robotics and battery manufacturing.
Problems
- Commercial mining cannot start until the ISA finalises the Exploitation Code.
- Environmental risk to seabed ecosystems, and high technology and capital costs.
Way forward
- Finalise policy frameworks and the White Paper with environmental safeguards.
- Bring in private investment through bankable projects while building indigenous technology.
Put in your answer
Deep Ocean Mission: ₹4,077 crore mission with NIOT demonstrating crawler systems beyond 5,000 m.
Central Indian Ocean Basin contract: 75,000 sq. km ISA contract with an estimated 366 to 380 million tonnes of nodules.
- 2014Mains GS1 · Q24Critically evaluate ocean resources that can be harnessed for world resource needs.
- 2025Mains GS3 · Q17Why is mining an environmental hazard, and what remedial measures are needed?
- 2021Prelims Q56Which statements on seabed mining licences and rare earths in international waters are correct?
- 2026Prelims Q50Which statements on India's Deep Ocean Mission are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting topic on critical minerals with ISA contracts and Deep Ocean Mission figures; related to an on-file mineral item, but a workshop gives little new to test.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.