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.