India First to Secure Dual Deep-Sea Exploration Contracts as the Global Regulations Remain in Flux
Published: Oct 13, 2025
Offshore oil drilling platform stationed in open ocean waters
Photo courtesy:
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Abstract: The International Seabed Authority (ISA) marked a watershed moment on September 15, 2025, signing a 15-year contract with the Indian government, revolutionising deep-sea exploration. India has been granted exclusive rights for the exploration of polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in the 10,000 sq km Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean, landmarking it as the first state which now holds three contracts, making India the only nation with the largest allocated international seabed territory. This contract is India’s third exploration agreement with the ISA and its second for PMS. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi by ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) Secretary Dr M. Ravichandran. Dr Vijay Kumar, Advisor (Scientist-G) to MoES, cemented India’s historic leadership in deep-sea exploration during the meeting, reaffirming the Ministry's commitment to advance the Deep Ocean Mission in a fruitful way, balancing economic growth with environmental safeguards while drawing renewed focus to global seabed governance and environmental stewardship.
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