**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Mines has notified the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026, to amend the existing 2025 rules. Issued under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, these amendments specifically update the penalty provisions for rule contraventions. The new rules are scheduled to come into force on August 1, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Title and Commencement**
* The rules are officially titled the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
* The provisions become effective starting August 1, 2026.
**Amendment of Rule 38 (Penalty)**
* The document substitutes the previous Rule 38 of the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules, 2025.
* Under the revised rule, any person or entity that contravenes the provisions of these rules shall be liable to a penalty.
* Penalties will be determined in accordance with Section 28 of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.
* The adjudication of these penalties will be governed by the Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026.
**Reference to Principal Rules**
* The original rules (Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules, 2025) were previously published in the Gazette of India on July 14, 2025, under notification G.S.R. 468 (E).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders: Entities and Individuals Operating in Offshore Areas**
**Impact**
Operations involving offshore atomic minerals are now subject to a revised legal framework for penalties. Any violation of the operating rules will trigger specific penalty proceedings linked to the 2026 Adjudication of Penalties Rules.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders must ensure all offshore atomic mineral operations remain in strict compliance with the updated rules by August 1, 2026, to avoid liabilities under the new penalty adjudication framework.
**Stakeholders: Regulatory and Adjudicating Authorities**
**Impact**
The Ministry and its designated adjudicating officers gain a clear, updated legal mandate to enforce penalties for rule contraventions.
**Action Required**
Authorities must apply the substituted Rule 38 and the Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026, when processing violations occurring after the commencement date.
Key Entities Referenced
Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The specific amendment rules being notified to update the principal rules regarding atomic mineral operations in offshore areas.
Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002: The primary legislation under which the Central Government exercises power to regulate mineral development in offshore regions.
Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules, 2025: The principal rules governing the operating rights for atomic minerals, which are being amended by this notification.
Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026: The rules referenced for determining the liability and adjudication process for penalties in case of contraventions.
Ministry of Mines: The primary central ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of these mineral development rules.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-31072026-274996
CG-DxLx-xEG-I3D1H0x7x2x0 26-274996
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 627] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतिार, िुलाई 30, 2026/श्रािण 8, 1948
No. 627] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2026/SHRAVAN 8, 1948
खान मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 30 िुलाई, 2026
सा.का.जन. 689(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि (जिकास और जिजनयमन) अजधजनयम, 2002 (2003
का 17) की धारा 35 उप धारा-1 और उप धारा -2 के खडं (ग) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, अपतट क्षेत्र
परमाणु खजनि संदिया संबंधी अजधकार जनयम, 2025 का सिं ोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अर्ाात्:—
1. संजक्षप्त नाम और प्रारंभ.— (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम अपतट क्षेत्र परमाणु खजनि संदिया संबंधी अजधकार
(संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 ह।ै
(2) ये जनयम 1 अगस्ट्त, 2026 को प्रिृत्त होंगे।
2. अपतट क्षेत्र परमाणु खजनि संदिया संबंधी अजधकार जनयम, 2025 म,ें जनयम 38 के स्ट्र्ान पर जनम्नजलजखत जनयम रखा
िाएगा िाएगा, अर्ाात्:—
5869 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
"38.िाजस्ट्त.— िो कोई भी इन जनयमों के उपबंधों का उल्लघं न करेगा, िह धारा 28 और उसके अधीन बनाए
गए जनयमों (अर्ाात; अपतट क्षत्रे खजनि िाजस्ट्त का न्यायजनणया न जनयम, 2026) के उपबंधों के अनुसार िाजस्ट्त के
जलए उत्तरिायी होगा।”
[फा. सं. एम.VI-16/51/2026-खान VI (भाग-7)]
कुलिीर ससह यािि, संयुि सजचि
टटप्पण.— मूल जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) में अजधसूचना संख्या
सा.का.जन. 468(अ), तारीख 14 िुलाई, 2025 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए र्।े
MINISTRY OF MINES
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th July, 2026
G.S.R. 689(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (c) of sub-section (2) of
section 35 of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (17 of 2003), the Central
Government hereby makes the following rules to amend the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules,
2025, namely: —
1. Short title and commencement: — (1) These rules may be called the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating
Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the 1st day of August, 2026.
2. In the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules, 2025, for rule 38, the following rule shall be
substituted, namely: —
“38. Penalty. – Whoever contravenes the provisions of these rules shall be liable to penalty in accordance
with the provisions of section 28 and the rules made thereunder (i.e., the Offshore Areas Mineral
Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026).”
[F. No. M.VI -16/51/2026-Mines VI (Part 7)]
KULVEER SINGH YADAV, Jt. Secy.
Note:– The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i),
vide notification number G.S.R. 468 (E) dated the 14th July, 2025.
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