Unlocking India's Potential: Undersea Minerals and Economic Growth

undersea minerals: wealth, law and India

What Is the Wealth Under the Sea?

Deep seabeds contain polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements.

These minerals are crucial for batteries, renewable energy, electronics, and defence technologies.

For India, this represents an opportunity to reduce import dependence and secure critical raw materials.

What Is the Legal Framework?

Governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982).

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates exploration and equitable sharing of benefits.

Resources in “the Area” (seabed beyond national jurisdiction) are declared the “common heritage of mankind”.

Countries must obtain ISA licences for exploration and, in the future, for mining.

What Is India’s Stake?

India is among the few pioneer investors recognized by ISA.

It has been allotted a 75,000 sq. km area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodule exploration.

The Deep Ocean Mission (2021) aims to harness these resources, focusing on technology development for submersibles, mining machines, and environmental impact studies.

India’s National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Ministry of Earth Sciences are leading these efforts.

What Are the Challenges for India?

Legal Ambiguity: Mining code negotiations at ISA are incomplete, creating uncertainty.

Environmental Risks: Potential damage to fragile deep-sea ecosystems may trigger global pushback.

Strategic Rivalry: With US and China locked in competition, India must secure its interests carefully.

Technology Gap: High capital and advanced robotics are required, which India is still developing.

What Is the Future Outlook?

India must balance its rights under UNCLOS with sustainable practices.

Collaboration with friendly nations for technology and investment is vital.

A clear national strategy on critical minerals security is needed to link seabed mining with Atmanirbhar Bharat and energy transition goals.