Consider the following statements: 1. The Global Ocean Commission gr

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 seafloor in international waters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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Statement 1 is incorrect because the Global Ocean Commission is an advocacy body, not a licensing authority. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is the body established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that organizes and controls mineral-related activities in the international seabed area (‘the Area’), including granting exploration and exploitation licenses. Statements 2 and 3 are correct. India has received licenses from the ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean. Rare earth minerals, along with other valuable minerals, are known to be present in deposits on the deep seafloor in international waters.

– The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates seabed mining activities in international waters.
– India holds licenses from the ISA for mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean.
– Rare earth elements (REEs) are found in deep-sea mineral deposits like polymetallic nodules and crusts.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS. India was the first country to receive the status of a ‘Pioneer Investor’ in 1987 and was allocated a site of 150,000 sq km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodule exploration. Later, India was also granted a license for exploration of polymetallic sulphides. Deep-sea mineral deposits are rich in various metals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and rare earth elements.

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