Amendment Notification under section 10 of OAMDR Act 2002

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to a notification under the Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002, as published in the Gazette of India on April 21, 2025. The amendment, identified by S.O. 1806E, specifically modifies a longitude coordinate within a table of a previous notification (S.O. 4819E, dated November 5, 2024). This correction likely aims to rectify a geographical inaccuracy relevant to offshore mineral development activities. The key finding is that this amendment is a technical correction to a previously published notification. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of an amendment to a notification related to the Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification published in the Gazette of India on April 21, 2025. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy Being Amended:** The amendment pertains to the notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Mines, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection ii, vide number S.O. 4819E, dated the 5th November 2024. * **Core Objective(s) (Inferred):** The overall objective of the Act and the original notification (S.O. 4819E) is likely to regulate and facilitate the development of mineral resources in offshore areas of India. The amendment's objective is to correct a specific error within that regulatory framework, thus ensuring the accuracy of the policy. **4. Background and Rationale:** The amendment appears to be a correction of a typographical or technical error in the original notification. The change involves substituting a longitude coordinate, suggesting the original value (9402'52.975"E) was inaccurate. This inaccuracy likely impacted the precise definition of an offshore area relevant to mineral development, necessitating the correction to 9407'52.975"E. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification constitutes an amendment. The specific change introduced by the provided amendment text is: * **Specific Part Being Changed:** In the Table within notification S.O. 4819E, serial number 7, column 2, under the heading "Longitude." * **New Rule/Provision:** The figures and letter 9402'52.975"E are replaced with the figures and letter 9407'52.975"E. * **Difference/Effect of the Change:** The change alters a specific longitude coordinate. The effect is to correct a potential inaccuracy in the geographical location associated with a mineral development area defined in the original notification. This correction ensures alignment with the correct location and prevents potential misinterpretations or operational errors. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include: * Mining companies involved in offshore mineral exploration and extraction in the specified region. * The Administering Authority and other relevant government agencies responsible for regulating offshore mineral development. * Any entities relying on the accuracy of the geographical data within the original notification for planning or operational purposes. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Mines and the Administering Authority (represented by VIVEK KUMAR BAJPAI) are responsible for implementing this amendment. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment is effective from the date of publication in the Gazette of India (April 21, 2025). No specific procedures are outlined in the provided text beyond the substitution of the longitude figure. The implementation requires updating relevant databases and documentation to reflect the corrected coordinate. It is expected that those responsible will update internal records and ensure accurate coordinates are used henceforth. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this specific change is: * Correction of a geographical inaccuracy to ensure alignment of offshore mining activity. * Reduced risk of misinterpretation or operational errors related to the location of mineral development areas. * Improved clarity and accuracy in the implementation and enforcement of regulations related to offshore mineral development. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment S.O. 1806E represents a technical correction to a previously issued notification under the Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002. By correcting a specific longitude coordinate, the amendment likely improves the accuracy and effectiveness of the regulatory framework for offshore mineral development. This correction contributes to the overall goal of regulating mineral resources in offshore areas and provides clarity to affected industry.

Key Entities Referenced