Deep-Sea Mineral Blocks Near Great Nicobar Island 🌊 | India’s Offshore Mining Push |

Deep-sea mineral blocks containing polymetallic nodules and crusts have been notified off the coast of which island?
✅ Answer: Great Nicobar Island 🇮🇳
The Ministry of Mines has notified two offshore mineral blocks near Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman Sea for granting composite licences for exploration of polymetallic nodules and crusts. The two blocks together cover about 1,632 sq km. The Indian Express
🔑 Key Points:
– 🏝️ Location: Off Great Nicobar Island
– 🌊 Sea: Andaman Sea
– ⛏️ Blocks: West Sewell Ridge-01 and Sewell Rise-01
– 📐 Combined area: 1,632 sq km
– 🪨 Minerals: Polymetallic nodules and crusts
– 🔋 Important minerals include cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper and rare earth elements
– 🇮🇳 The development is part of India’s efforts to strengthen critical mineral security and deep-sea mineral exploration. GK24
📚 Important for: UPSC | SSC | Banking | Railway | Defence | State PCS | Current Affairs 2026
#CurrentAffairs2026 #GreatNicobar #DeepSeaMining #PolymetallicNodules #CriticalMinerals #AndamanSea #ScienceAndTechnology