Statement 2 is correct. India has received licenses from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin and polymetallic sulphides in the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge. These licenses are part of India's strategic efforts in deep-sea resource exploration, aligning with its Deep Ocean Mission.
Statement 3 is correct. The deep seafloor in international waters is known to contain significant deposits of various valuable minerals. These include rare earth elements, polymetallic nodules (rich in manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper), and polymetallic sulphides, which are crucial for various industrial and technological applications.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is the autonomous international organization responsible for organizing and controlling all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area. This includes granting licenses for exploration and mining. The Global Ocean Commission is an independent initiative focused on high seas governance and does not possess the authority to issue such licenses.
Options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect because Statement 1 is factually inaccurate. The International Seabed Authority, not the Global Ocean Commission, is the designated body for granting licenses for seabed exploration and mining in international waters. Therefore, any option that includes Statement 1 cannot be the correct answer.