Ministry of Mines administers the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002 [OAMDR Act]. The Act provide for development and regulation of mineral resources in the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The OAMDR Act has recently been amended through the OAMDR (Amendment) Act, 2023 w.e.f. 17.08.2023 which brought major reform by introducing auction as the method of allocation of operating rights in the offshore areas.

Ministry of Mines is in the process of framing the rules for implementing the provisions of the amended OAMDR Act. Accordingly, the Offshore Areas Minerals (Existence of Mineral Resources) Rules, 2024 were notified on 06.06.2024. Further, the Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 and the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024 are under finalization after consultations.

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