It now commands the largest area allocated in the international seabed for PMS exploration — a scientific achievement with strategic importance. The earlier contract is in the Central Indian Ridge and Southwest Indian Ridge, signed in 2016. Story continues below this adIs India planning to acquire more sites for mineral explorations along the Indian Ocean? India is looking to acquire additional sites in the Indian Ocean for mineral exploration as part of the Blue Economy initiatives of the Government of India. Specifically, India is interested in the exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts on the Afanasy-Nikitin Seamount in the Central Indian Ocean.