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?
Show answer
Answer: B. Statement 1 is wrong: licences for deep seabed exploration in international waters are given by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), not the Global Ocean Commission. Statement 2 is correct: India holds ISA contracts, including for polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Statement 3 is correct: rare earth elements occur in seabed deposits. So 2 and 3.
Watch for: The authority under UNCLOS is the International Seabed Authority, based in Kingston, Jamaica.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because the Global Ocean Commission does not issue licences.
- C. Wrong because the ISA, not the Global Ocean Commission, grants licences.
- D. Wrong because statement 1 is false.
Source to check: International Seabed Authority website (contractors list); Ministry of Earth Sciences, Deep Ocean Mission
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.