UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEEP-SEA MINING

Q1. The Deep Ocean Mission, launched in 2021, is funded under which one of the following categories of Government of India schemes?

  • A. Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 60:40 centre-state funding pattern
  • B. Central Sector Scheme with 100% central funding
  • C. Externally Aided Project financed through multilateral loans
  • D. Public-Private Partnership scheme on a viability-gap funding basis

Q2. Within the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which institute is the nodal implementing agency developing the manned submersible for the Deep Ocean Mission?

  • A. National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)
  • B. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
  • C. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)
  • D. National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR)

Q3. What is the maximum ocean depth to which the MATSYA-6000 submersible of the Samudrayaan project is designed to carry its crew?

  • A. 1,000 m
  • B. 3,000 m
  • C. 6,000 m
  • D. 11,000 m

Q4. MATSYA-6000 is the crewed deep-ocean submersible being developed under which one of the following projects?

  • A. Samudrayaan
  • B. O-SMART
  • C. Sagar Nidhi
  • D. Mission Mausam

Q5. With reference to India's status and allocation for polymetallic nodule exploration, consider the following statements: 1. India became the first country to be granted Pioneer Investor status by the United Nations for polymetallic nodule exploration, in 1987. 2. India's exclusive exploration area for polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin is about 75,000 sq km. 3. The estimated polymetallic nodule resource in India's allotted area is about 380 million tonnes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India became the first country to be granted Pioneer Investor status by the United Nations for polymetallic nodule exploration, in 1987.
  2. India's exclusive exploration area for polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin is about 75,000 sq km.
  3. The estimated polymetallic nodule resource in India's allotted area is about 380 million tonnes.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Under Part XI of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the term 'the Area' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The Exclusive Economic Zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline
  • B. The seabed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction
  • C. The continental shelf claimed by a coastal state up to 350 nautical miles
  • D. The contiguous zone adjoining a state's territorial sea

Q7. Among the metals contained in the polymetallic nodules of India's Central Indian Ocean Basin contract area, which one is present in the largest estimated quantity?

  • A. Nickel
  • B. Copper
  • C. Cobalt
  • D. Manganese

Q8. The National Critical Mineral Mission, approved in 2025, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A Ministry of Earth Sciences scheme to develop deep-ocean manned submersible technology
  • B. A seven-year mission with a Rs.34,300 crore outlay to secure critical mineral supply chains through domestic and overseas sourcing, processing and recycling
  • C. A demand-incentive scheme to subsidise the purchase of electric vehicles
  • D. A programme to auction offshore oil and natural gas exploration blocks in India's EEZ

Q9. With reference to the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) and the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), consider the following statements: 1. The Deep Ocean Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, whereas the National Critical Mineral Mission is steered by the Ministry of Mines. 2. The National Critical Mineral Mission has a total outlay of Rs.4,077 crore. 3. Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, the Geological Survey of India has been tasked with exploration projects, and exploration is to be extended to offshore polymetallic nodules. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Deep Ocean Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, whereas the National Critical Mineral Mission is steered by the Ministry of Mines.
  2. The National Critical Mineral Mission has a total outlay of Rs.4,077 crore.
  3. Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, the Geological Survey of India has been tasked with exploration projects, and exploration is to be extended to offshore polymetallic nodules.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. With reference to India's contract area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB), consider the following statements: 1. India holds an exclusive exploration area of about 75,000 sq km for polymetallic nodules in the CIOB. 2. India received Pioneer Investor status for the CIOB in 1987. 3. The polymetallic nodule resource of India's CIOB area is estimated at about 380 million tonnes. 4. The mineral deposits of India's CIOB contract area are polymetallic sulphides formed at hydrothermal vents. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. India holds an exclusive exploration area of about 75,000 sq km for polymetallic nodules in the CIOB.
  2. India received Pioneer Investor status for the CIOB in 1987.
  3. The polymetallic nodule resource of India's CIOB area is estimated at about 380 million tonnes.
  4. The mineral deposits of India's CIOB contract area are polymetallic sulphides formed at hydrothermal vents.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. With reference to the regulation of and safeguards around deep-sea mining, consider the following statements: 1. The International Seabed Authority has adopted regulations for the exploration of minerals in the Area but has not yet finalised the exploitation regulations (the 'Mining Code'). 2. Environmental baseline studies, including biodiversity assessments, are an integral component of India's exploration contract with the ISA. 3. One of the six verticals of the Deep Ocean Mission is dedicated to the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The International Seabed Authority has adopted regulations for the exploration of minerals in the Area but has not yet finalised the exploitation regulations (the 'Mining Code').
  2. Environmental baseline studies, including biodiversity assessments, are an integral component of India's exploration contract with the ISA.
  3. One of the six verticals of the Deep Ocean Mission is dedicated to the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3