Section 7. Permit for mineral resource activities

The Indian Antarctic Act, 2022

7. Permit for mineral resource activities.-

No person or vessel in Antarctica shall-

(a) drill, dredge or excavate for mineral resources;

(b) collect any samples of mineral resources; or

(c) do anything for the purpose of identifying specific mineral resource occurrences or deposits, or areas where such occurrences or deposits may be found, except in accordance with a permit issued under this Act:

Provided that no permit shall be issued for the purposes of this section unless the Committee is satisfied that the activities shall be carried on only for the purposes-

(a) of scientific research; or

(b) connected with the construction, maintenance or repair in Antarctica of an Indian station or any other structure, road, runway or jetty maintained by or on behalf of India.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this section, "mineral resource" means any natural resource that is neither living nor renewable.