New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced the signing of a new 15-year contract between the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exclusive rights to explore Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) in the allotted 10,000 sq km area of the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean, a release from Ministry of Earth Sciences stated.

With this, India has become the first country in the world to hold two contracts with ISA for PMS exploration, reaffirming its pioneering role in deep-sea resource exploration and its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean.

As per the release, Dr Singh said that the new contract is a significant step towards realising the vision of the Deep Ocean Mission launc...