UPSC Prelims 2021 Question:

Consider the following statements:

1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on the seafloor in international waters.
   
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation: 

• International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a United Nations body set up to grant licences for seabed exploration and mining of marine non-living resources of oceans in international waters. On the other hand, the Global Ocean Commission was an international initiative between 2013 and 2016 to raise awareness about ocean health and productivity. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• India was the first country to receive the status of a ‘Pioneer Investor ‘ in 1987 for exploration of the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). In 2017, India’s exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules from seabed in CIOB (International Waters) have been extended by five years. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  
• In deep seabed, Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) or Manganese nodules contain manganese, copper, cobalt and rare earth minerals such as Cerium, Yttrium etc. These rare earth minerals have diverse applications in electrical and electronic components. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Relevance: India’s ambitious ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ was launched in 2019 to explore deep ocean minerals.

Subject: Geography | Mineral Resources