Consider the following statements: 1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters. 2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters. 3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Shows that specialised international bodies exist to undertake ocean work (example: International Council for Exploration of the Sea) rather than individual countries acting alone.

A student could check whether the Global Ocean Commission is described as a regulatory body with licensing powers like such international organisations, or if it is advisory/research-focused instead.

States that lands, minerals and other things under waters within territorial waters, continental shelf and EEZ vest in the coastal state, implying a legal distinction between national zones and areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Using this rule and a basic map of maritime zones, a student could identify that licensing for seabed mining in 'international waters' (beyond EEZ/continental shelf) likely falls to a different, specific international mechanism and so check which organisation holds that mandate.

Describes exploitation of mineral wealth from continental shelves by littoral (coastal) countries, indicating that coastal states commonly grant licences for offshore resource extraction within their jurisdiction.

A student could infer that licence-granting for seabed mining is typically a coastal-state function within EEZ/continental shelf and would therefore look for a separate authority for areas beyond these zones to assess the Global Ocean Commission's role.

Discusses national mineral policy reforms and the granting of licences to private sector actors, showing that mining licences are often national policy instruments.

From this pattern, a student could ask whether the Global Ocean Commission issues licences (a national-type function) or instead influences policy—then check the commission's legal/operational remit.

Explains that licences and permissions for sand mining are administered by local/national authorities and subject to environmental clearances, reinforcing that mining licences are typically granted by domestic bodies.

A student could generalise that since resource licences are usually national, they should verify whether any international body explicitly has licensing authority for seabed mining beyond national zones, and whether that is the Global Ocean Commission.

States that the ocean beds are rich in manganese nodules and that ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals (though often widely diffused).

A student could take this as evidence that the seafloor can host concentrated mineral deposits and then look up whether rare earth elements (REEs) are known to occur in nodules or seabed deposits.

Explains seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust forms from upwelling basaltic magma.

One can infer that geological activity at ridges and spreading centers may create environments (e.g., hydrothermal systems) that concentrate metals, so check whether REEs are associated with such settings.

Notes higher temperatures near mid-ocean ridges due to upwelling magmatic material and links ridges to volcanic/tectonic activity.

Use this to justify investigating hydrothermal vent deposits and their metal content (potential hosts for REEs) on the seafloor in international areas.

States many minerals formed deep within the Earth are brought to the surface by volcanic activity.

Apply the rule that deep-sourced minerals can be brought to ocean floors by volcanism and then check whether rare earth-bearing minerals are among those mobilized and deposited in marine settings.

Says almost every known chemical element occurs in the oceans in varying proportions, though many are in trace quantities.

Combine this with the existence of concentrated seabed deposits to ask whether REEs, present in seawater or sediments in trace amounts, could accumulate into economically significant deposits on the seafloor.