UPSC Civil Services Model Paper 7

The mission proposes to explore the deep ocean similar to the space exploration started by ISRO.
The nodal agency for this mission is the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
Underwater robotics and ‘manned’ submersibles are key components of the Mission which will help India harness various living and non-living (water, mineral and energy) resources from the seabed and deep water.
Hence Statement A is Incorrect and B is Correct .
The tasks that will be undertaken over this period include deep-sea mining, survey, energy exploration and the offshore-based desalination . These technological developments are funded under an umbrella scheme of the government called Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART) .
One of the main aims of the mission is to explore and extract polymetallic nodules (PMN) . These are small potato-like rounded accretions composed of minerals such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper and iron hydroxide .
Hence Statement C is Correct .
These metals can be extracted and used in electronic devices, smartphones, batteries and even for solar panels .
The International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous international organisation established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , allots the ‘area’ for deep-sea mining.