PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEEP-SEA MINING

1. At a Glance

Deep-sea mining = extraction of mineral deposits (polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, polymetallic sulphides) from the ocean floor beyond 200 m depth [S3].
India pursues it under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) launched on 7 September 2021 [S2][S5].
Strategic for critical minerals security (Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, rare earths) needed for EV batteries and clean energy; ties to India's Blue Economy vision [S5].

Parliament Question (Lok Sabha) answered by MoES on 12 March 2026 detailed DOM's six verticals and milestones [S1].
MATSYA-6000 wet tests completed at L&T's Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai (Jan-Feb 2025/2026) [S1][S4].
India's first manned deep-ocean mission to 6,000 m depth expected by end of 2026 [S5].

1987: India became the first country granted Pioneer Investor status by UN for polymetallic nodule (PMN) exploration in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) [S6].
2001: India signed 15-year PMN exploration contract with International Seabed Authority (ISA) [S6].
June 2021: Cabinet approved DOM (₹4,077 cr, 5-year outlay 2021-26) [S2].
2022: Samudrayaan project formally announced under DOM [S2].
2025-26: MATSYA-6000 subsystem realisation, hull testing, harbour wet trials [S1][S4].

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT MoEFCC / NOT Ministry of Mines) [S2].
Implementing Agency: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai [S2].
Scheme type: Central Sector Scheme (100% central funding) [S2].
Six verticals of DOM [S1]: 1. Deep-sea mining technology + human submersible + underwater robotics 2. Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services 3. Deep-sea biodiversity exploration & conservation 4. Deep-ocean survey & exploration 5. Energy & freshwater from the ocean 6. Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
MATSYA-6000 specs: titanium personnel sphere, 3 aquanauts, depth 6,000 m, endurance 12 hrs normal / 96 hrs emergency [S1][S2].
India's ISA Contract Area: ~75,000 sq km in CIOB (0°-25°S, 70°-90°E) for PMNs; additional contract for polymetallic sulphides in Central Indian Ridge & SW Indian Ridge [S3].
ISA HQ: Kingston, Jamaica; established 1994 under UNCLOS 1982 [S3].

Economic: PMNs contain Ni, Co, Mn, Cu — vital for EV batteries; India imports >90% of these; deep-sea reserves estimated at 380 mt in CIOB [S3][S5].
Strategic/Geopolitical: Counters Chinese dominance in seabed contracts (China holds 5 ISA contracts, most of any nation); secures Indo-Pacific maritime presence [S3].
Scientific/Technological: MATSYA-6000 would make India the 6th country (after US, Russia, China, France, Japan) with manned deep-sea submersible capability [S5].
Environmental: Sediment plumes threaten benthic biodiversity; India is conducting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in CIOB [S3]. ISA yet to finalise Mining Code (exploitation regulations).
Legal/Constitutional: Governed by UNCLOS Part XI (the "Area" = common heritage of mankind); ISA regulates exploration via contracts [S3].

Jan-Feb 2025/2026: MATSYA-6000 wet tests at L&T Kattupalli harbour [S1][S4].
March 2026: MoES parliamentary reply outlining DOM milestones [S1].
2026 target: Shallow water (500 m) demonstration of MATSYA-6000 [S4].
Mid-2027 target: Deep-water (6,000 m) demonstration [S4].
Continued EIA studies in CIOB Indian Contract Region by NIOT [S3].

DOM launched: 7 September 2021 [S2].
Approved outlay: ₹4,077 crore over 2021-26 [S2].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (not Mines, not MoEFCC) [S2].
Implementing body: NIOT, Chennai [S2].
Manned submersible name: MATSYA-6000 [S1].
Capacity: 3 humans to 6,000 m [S1].
Endurance: 12 hrs normal, 96 hrs emergency [S2].
Wet test venue: L&T shipyard, Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu) [S1].
DOM has 6 verticals [S1].
Regulator of international seabed: International Seabed Authority (ISA), HQ Kingston, Jamaica [S3].
ISA established under UNCLOS 1982; began functioning 1994 [S3].
India's PMN contract area: Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) [S3].
India was first nation granted Pioneer Investor status (1987) [S6].
PMNs contain: Manganese, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt [S3].
"The Area" beyond national jurisdiction = common heritage of mankind [S3].

GS-III: Science & Technology — indigenisation of technology; developing new tech.
GS-III: Environment — conservation, EIA.
GS-II: International institutions (ISA, UNCLOS).
Probable stems: 1. "Deep-sea mining offers India a route to critical-mineral sovereignty but at potentially irreversible ecological cost. Discuss." 2. "Examine the strategic and scientific significance of the Deep Ocean Mission in advancing India's Blue Economy." 3. "Discuss the role of the International Seabed Authority in regulating the 'common heritage of mankind' and India's stakes therein."

DOM is under MoES, not Ministry of Mines or MoEFCC.
MATSYA-6000 is the submersible; Samudrayaan is the project name — don't conflate.
"The Area" (international seabed) ≠ EEZ; deep-sea mining in EEZ is under coastal state, not ISA.
ISA is a UNCLOS body, not a UN specialised agency.
India's first Pioneer Investor status was in 1987, not after UNCLOS entry into force (1994).
DOM has six verticals, not five; deep-sea mining is just one vertical.

[S1] Parliament Question: Deep-Sea Mining (MoES, 12 Mar 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238773 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Samudrayaan Project — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1942909 — (tier: 1)
[S3] The International Seabed Authority and Deep Seabed Mining (UN Chronicle) — https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/international-seabed-authority-and-deep-seabed-mining — (tier: 2)
[S4] Matsya-6000 Wet Testing Completion — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2104039 — (tier: 1)
[S5] India's first manned deep ocean mission by end of 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2128424 — (tier: 1)
[S6] Deep Ocean Mission backgrounder (PIB) — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/aug/doc2025817614501.pdf — (tier: 1)