PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEEP OCEAN MISSION

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has developed a seabed mining system and successfully conducted mobility and power trials at 5,270 m depth in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) site allocated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). NIOT is also developing nodule‑collection and crushing components in line with ISA guidelines. The Ministry has signed contracts with ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules and sulphides in the Indian Ocean beyond national jurisdiction, undertaking resource and environmental impact assessments and multidisciplinary oceanographic studies to establish baseline conditions. Currently, only exploration activities in the international seabed are permitted. This information was provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.