Question 99 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Environment

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?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 and 3 only

Strategy: 1. Identify the correct international body for seabed mining as the International Seabed Authority, not the Global Ocean Commission.
2. Eliminate all options that incorrectly name the Global Ocean Commission.
3. Confirm the factual accuracy of the remaining statements: that India holds exploration licences and that rare earth minerals are found on the seafloor.
4. Select the option containing only the confirmed correct statements.

Key Info: ## The International Seabed Authority
The International Seabed Authority (ISA), established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1994, is the competent body to regulate seabed mining and grant exploration or mining licences in international waters (the Area beyond national jurisdiction). The Global Ocean Commission was a temporary, non-regulatory initiative founded in 2013 for awareness and policy advocacy on high seas governance; it ceased operations in 2016 and never issued licences.

## India's Seabed Exploration
India holds pioneer investor status from ISA and has been granted exclusive rights for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. India's deep-sea exploration began in 1981 and is managed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the National Institute of Ocean Technology. In 2017, India's licence for exploration was extended by five years.

## Rare Earth Minerals on the Seafloor
Rare earth minerals (REMs), a group of 17 chemically similar elements, are vital for high-tech and green energy applications. The seafloor in international waters, particularly in polymetallic nodules and deep-sea hydrothermal vents, contains significant concentrations of these elements along with other valuable metals such as manganese, cobalt, copper, and nickel. Seafloor mineral resources are considered a potential alternative source for rare earth elements to terrestrial mining and are a major focus for future resource security.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3