On 20 September 2025, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India has secured exclusive rights to explore Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) in the Carlsberg Ridge of the Indian Ocean. The 15-year contract, signed between the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA), covers a 10,000 sq km area, making India the first nation in the world to hold two PMS exploration contracts.
This milestone strengthens India’s maritime presence and supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Deep Ocean Mission, which focuses on seabed mineral exploration, deep-sea mining technologies, and Blue Economy initiatives.
India now holds PMS exploration rights in both the Central & Southwest Indian Ridge and the Carlsberg Ridge, making it the largest holder of PMS exploration areas in international waters. PMS deposits, rich in copper, zinc, silver, gold, and platinum, are of immense strategic and commercial value.
India’s partnership with ISA spans over 30 years, beginning as a pioneer in polymetallic nodule exploration. Further, India will host the 8th ISA Annual Contractors Meeting in Goa (18–20 September 2025), reinforcing its leadership in deep-sea exploration and marine science.
