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PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEEP-SEA MINING

March 12, 2026 5 min read Science & Technology Economics GS3 (Science & Technology Maritime Resources Environment)
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What Happened

  • Parliament received a response detailing India's Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), which encompasses six verticals covering deep-sea mining, human submersibles, ocean climate advisory services, biodiversity exploration, deep-ocean survey, ocean energy, and the Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology.
  • India has been allocated a 75,000 sq km site in the Central Indian Ocean Basin by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for polymetallic nodule exploration.
  • The seabed mining system, tested for mobility and powering at depths of 5,270 m in the Central Indian Ocean (2021) and for exploratory trials at Andaman Sea sites (2024), is advancing toward shallow-water tests in 2025 and unmanned deep-sea trials in 2026.
  • The MATSYA 6000 manned submersible — a centrepiece of the mission — is being developed to carry three persons to 6,000 m depth; crewed mission targeted for 2027.
  • The SAHAV (Synoptic Assessment and Harnessing of Advanced Vitals) portal was launched in 2025 as a real-time digital interface for oceanic data.

Static Topic Bridges

Deep Ocean Mission — Six Verticals and Strategic Vision

The Deep Ocean Mission is an integrated government initiative approved in June 2021 with a budget of Rs 4,077 crore for five years, implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It reflects India's recognition that the deep ocean represents a frontier zone for critical mineral resources, energy, food security, and scientific knowledge. The six verticals are: (1) Deep-sea mining, human submersible, and underwater robotics; (2) Ocean climate change advisory services; (3) Deep-sea biodiversity exploration and conservation; (4) Deep-ocean survey and exploration; (5) Energy and freshwater from the ocean; (6) Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology.

  • DOM budget: Rs 4,077 crore; implementing ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
  • Approved: Union Cabinet, June 16, 2021.
  • MATSYA 6000 manned submersible: Under development by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai; target depth 6,000 m; crew of 3.
  • NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology): The primary technical agency under MoES for ocean technology development.
  • The DOM's human submersible programme puts India in the company of China (Jiaolong), Russia (Mir), and Japan (Shinkai 6500) as nations with deep-sea manned submersible capability.

Connection to this news: The parliamentary question response confirmed the current status of all six DOM verticals, with deep-sea mining and the submersible programme being the most strategically significant and commercially promising.

Polymetallic Nodules — Strategic Mineral Resources

Polymetallic nodules (also called manganese nodules) are mineral concretions found on the seabed of the world's oceans, typically at depths of 4,000-6,000 metres. They form over millions of years by accretion of minerals from seawater around a nucleus (fish tooth, shark vertebra, shell fragment). Indian Ocean nodules are particularly rich in manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper, and iron hydroxides — all critical minerals for clean energy technologies. Nickel and cobalt are essential for lithium-ion batteries (electric vehicles); cobalt for wind turbine magnets; copper for electrical infrastructure. India's 75,000 sq km allocated site in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) is estimated to contain approximately 380 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules.

  • India's ISA allocation: 75,000 sq km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin; allocated for exploration by ISA in 2016.
  • Estimated nodule reserve in India's exploration area: ~380 million tonnes.
  • Key minerals in nodules: Manganese (25-30%), nickel (1.3%), copper (1.1%), cobalt (0.21%), iron (~7%).
  • Depth of nodule fields: Typically 4,000-6,000 m below sea surface.
  • International Seabed Authority (ISA): UN body established under UNCLOS 1982 to regulate mineral resources in international waters (the "Area").
  • The "Area" (seabed beyond national jurisdiction) and its resources are declared the "Common Heritage of Mankind" under UNCLOS Article 136.

Connection to this news: India's ISA exploration contract and the Dom's mining vertical position India to benefit from the critical minerals embedded in deep-sea nodules as global demand for EV batteries and clean energy infrastructure accelerates.

International Seabed Authority and UNCLOS Framework

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982 and in force since 1994, is the comprehensive international framework governing ocean use. Under UNCLOS, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) — established in Kingston, Jamaica — governs all activities related to mineral resources in the international seabed area beyond national jurisdiction. UNCLOS distinguishes between: (1) Territorial Sea (12 nautical miles from baseline); (2) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, 200 nautical miles — coastal state has sovereign rights over resources); (3) Continental Shelf (up to 350 nautical miles in some cases); (4) High Seas and The Area (beyond all national jurisdiction). Mineral extraction in The Area requires ISA approval and compliance with the ISA's evolving exploitation regulations.

  • UNCLOS ratified by India: 1995.
  • ISA membership: 168 member states as of 2026.
  • The ISA's Mining Code (Exploitation Regulations) has been under negotiation since 2014; commercial deep-sea mining cannot legally begin until the Code is finalised.
  • India's EEZ: Approximately 2.37 million sq km — larger than India's land area; contains significant continental shelf resources.
  • UNCLOS Article 136: Seabed beyond national jurisdiction and its resources are the "common heritage of mankind" — no state can claim sovereignty.

Connection to this news: India's participation in ISA and the Deep Ocean Mission places it within the UNCLOS multilateral framework, ensuring that its deep-sea mineral extraction plans comply with international law — particularly relevant as the ISA Mining Code nears finalisation.

Key Facts & Data

  • Deep Ocean Mission budget: Rs 4,077 crore; approved June 2021.
  • Implementing ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
  • Six verticals: Deep-sea mining/submersible, ocean climate, biodiversity, survey, ocean energy, marine biology station.
  • India's ISA allocation: 75,000 sq km in Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodule exploration.
  • Estimated nodules: ~380 million tonnes in India's exploration zone.
  • Key minerals: Manganese (25-30%), nickel (1.3%), copper (1.1%), cobalt (0.21%).
  • MATSYA 6000: Manned submersible to 6,000 m depth; crew of 3; target year 2027.
  • Mining system test: 5,270 m depth in Central Indian Ocean (2021); Andaman Sea (2024).
  • SAHAV portal: Launched 2025 for real-time oceanic data.
  • ISA: UN body established under UNCLOS 1982; headquarters Kingston, Jamaica.
  • UNCLOS Article 136: Seabed resources are "Common Heritage of Mankind."