**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Mines has issued the Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development (Amendment) Rules, 2026, to amend the principal rules from 2024. Effective from August 1, 2026, the notification shifts the penalty framework for rule contraventions to the newly established Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026. Key changes include the omission of specific schedules and the formalization of adjudication processes for non-compliance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Adjudication of Penalties**
* **Rule 48 Amendment:** Action for contravention of rules will now initiate adjudication of penalties specifically in accordance with the Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026.
* **Replacement of Fixed Fines:** Previous references to "such amount as specified in the Second Schedule" are replaced by penalty determinations under the 2026 Adjudication Rules.
**Penalty Liability**
* **Revised Rule 60:** Any individual or entity that contravenes the provisions of these rules shall be liable for penalties under Section 28 of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, and the 2026 Adjudication Rules.
**Omission of Schedules**
* **Schedule Removal:** "The Second Schedule" and "The Third Schedule" of the principal 2024 rules are officially omitted.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Entities and Individuals Operating in Offshore Mineral Areas**
**Impact**
Operations are now subject to a revised penalty and adjudication framework. Fixed penalty amounts previously listed in the 2024 schedules have been replaced by a process-driven adjudication system under the 2026 Rules.
**Action Required**
Must ensure full compliance with the updated conservation and development regulations to avoid the initiation of penalty adjudication proceedings under the new framework.
**Stakeholder: Central Government and Adjudicating Authorities**
**Impact**
The government is empowered to initiate formal adjudication for rule violations through the Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026. The legal basis for imposing fines has been updated to reflect the omission of the 2024 schedules.
**Action Required**
Adjudicating officers must refer to the 2026 Adjudication Rules and Section 28 of the Act when processing contraventions and determining penalties starting from August 1, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002: The principal legislation that grants the Central Government the authority to regulate mineral development in offshore areas and frame rules for conservation.
Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The specific rules notified to amend existing mineral conservation regulations, primarily focusing on updating penalty mechanisms.
Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024: The primary rules being amended by this notification, which govern the systematic development and conservation of minerals in offshore regions.
Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026: A newly referenced set of rules that prescribes the procedure for initiating and adjudicating penalties for contraventions under the mineral development framework.
Ministry of Mines: The primary central ministry responsible for the administration of offshore mineral resources and the issuance of these regulatory updates.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-31072026-274997
CG-DxLx-xEG-I3D1H0x7x2x0 26-274997
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.ं 625] नई दिल्ली, नृहस्ट्प जतिार, िुलाई 30, 2026/श्रािण 8, 1948
No. 625] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2026/SHRAVAN 8, 1948
खान मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 30 िुलाई, 2026
सा.का.जन. 687(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि (जिकास और जिजनयमन) अजधजनयम, 2002 (2003
का 17) की धारा 35 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि संरक्षण और जिकास जनयम, 2024 का
संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम ननाती ह,ै अर्ाात:् —
1. सजं क्षप्त नाम और प्रारंभ.- (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि संरक्षण और जिकास (संिोधन) जनयम,
2026 ह।ै
(2) ये जनयम 1 अगस्ट्त, 2026 को प्रिृत्त होंगे।
2. अपतट क्षत्रे खजनि संरक्षण और जिकास जनयम, 2024 (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात ् उि जनयम कहा गया ह)ै के, जनयम
48 म,ें -
(i) उप-जनयम (4) म,ें खंड (ii) के जलए, जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, अर्ाात:् -
5867 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
“(ii) अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि (िन जिश्वास) जनयम, 2026 के अनुसार जनयम के उल्लंघन के जलए िाजस्ट्त के
न्यायजनणायन की िुरुआत करन े के जलए कारािाई करें;”;
(ii) उप-जनयम (5) म,ें
(क) खंड (ii) म,ें उप-खंड (क) म,ें "िसू री अनुसूची म ें जिजनर्दिष्ट रकम" िब्िों के स्ट्र्ान पर, "अपतट क्षत्रे
खजनि िाजस्ट्त का न्यायजनणायन जनयम, 2026 के अनुसार िाजस्ट्त" िब्ि रख े िाएंग;े
(ख) खंड (iii) म,ें “िसू री अनुसचू ी में जिजनर्दिष्ट रकम" िब्िों के स्ट्र्ान पर, “अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि िाजस्ट्त का
न्यायजनणायन जनयम, 2026 के अनुसार िाजस्ट्त" िब्ि रख े िाएंगे।
3. उि जनयमों म,ें जनयम 60 के जलए, जनम्नजलजखत जनयम रखा िाएगा, अर्ाात:्-
“60. िाजस्ट्त.- िो कोई भी इन जनयमों के उपनंधों का उल्लंघन करेगा, िह धारा 28 और उसके अधीन ननाए गए
जनयमों (अर्ाात; अपतट क्षेत्र खजनि िाजस्ट्त का न्यायजनणायन जनयम, 2026) के उपनंधों के अनुसार िाजस्ट्त के
जलए उत्तरिायी होगा।”
4. उि जनयमों म,ें “अनुसूची-2” और “अनसु ूची-3” का लोप दकया िाएगा।
[फा. सं. एम.VI.-16/51/2026-खान VI (भाग-5)]
कुलिीर ससह यािि, संयुि सजचि
टटप्पण.— मूल जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 791(अ),
तारीख 31 दिसंनर, 2024 में प्रकाजित दकए गए र्े।
MINISTRY OF MINES
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th July, 2026
G.S.R. 687(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 35 of the Offshore Areas Mineral
(Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (17 of 2003), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules
further to amend the Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024, namely: —
1. Short title and commencement: — (1) These rules may be called the Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and
Development (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the 1st day of August, 2026.
2. In the Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the said
rules), in rule 48, —
(a) in sub-rule (4), for clause (ii), following clause shall be substituted, namely: –
“(ii) take action to initiate adjudication of penalty for contravention in accordance with Offshore
Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026;”;
(b) in sub-rule (5), –[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
(i) in clause (ii), in sub-clause (a), for the words “such amount as specified in the Second Schedule”,
the words “penalty in accordance with Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules,
2026 “shall be substituted;
(ii) in clause (iii), for the words “such amount as specified in the Second Schedule”, the words
“penalty in accordance with Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026 “shall be
substituted.
3. In the said rules, for rule 60, the following rule shall be substituted, namely: –
“60. Penalty. – Whoever contravenes the provisions of these rules shall be liable to penalty in accordance
with the provisions of section 28 of the Act and the rules made thereunder (i.e., the Offshore Areas Mineral
Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026).”.
4. In the said rules, “THE SECOND SCHEDULE” and “THE THIRD SCHEDULE” shall be omitted.
[F. No. M.VI -16/51/2026-Mines VI (Part 5)]
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. 791 (E) dated the 31st December, 2024.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.