1) January, 1981 - First nodule sample collected.

2) July, 1981 - Formation of the Department of Ocean Development

3) April, 1982 - Recognised as a ' Pioneer Investor'

4) December, 1982 - Signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

5) August, 1983 - Coins made of metals extracted from nodules were presented to the then Prime Minister

6) August, 1983 - Exploration for manganese nodules for 3 million sq.km completed

7) January, 1984 - Application for the registration as a "Pioneer Investor" was submitted to the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea

8) July, 1987 - Revised Application was submitted

9) August, 1987 - Exclusive rights of the "Pioneer Investor" was allocated

10) December, 1987- The Certificate of Registration was handed over to the Indian Delegation in New York