Answer: Pacific Ocean
Notes: India will apply for exploration licenses from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to search for deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Ocean, focusing on the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). The CCZ, a vast plain between Hawaii and Mexico, contains large volumes of polymetallic nodules rich in manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt, essential for electric vehicles and solar panels. Discovered in 1873, these nodules form over millions of years. The CCZ hosts up to 30 cetacean populations, including endangered blue whales. The ISA, established in 1994 under the UNCLOS, regulates mining in international seabeds beyond national jurisdiction.
