**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Mines has issued the Offshore Areas Operating Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026, to modify the existing 2024 regulatory framework. The primary purpose is to substitute the penalty provisions under Rule 32 to align with the Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026. These amendment rules are scheduled to come into force on August 1, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Title and Implementation**
* The rules are officially titled the Offshore Areas Operating Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
* The effective date for the implementation of these rules is August 1, 2026.
**Amendment of Rule 32**
* The original Rule 32 of the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024, is entirely substituted by a new provision.
* The new rule establishes that any person who contravenes the provisions of the rules shall be liable for penalties.
**Penalty and Adjudication Framework**
* Penalties for contravention will be applied in accordance with Section 28 of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.
* The adjudication process for these penalties will specifically follow the "Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026."
**Impact Analysis**
**Entities Operating in Offshore Mineral Areas**
**Impact**
These entities are now subject to a updated legal mechanism for the adjudication of penalties in case of rule violations.
**Action Required**
Must ensure full compliance with the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules by August 1, 2026, to avoid penalties under the new adjudication framework.
**Ministry of Mines / Regulatory Authorities**
**Impact**
The amendment provides the government with a specific regulatory link between operating rights and the 2026 penalty adjudication rules.
**Action Required**
Regulatory bodies must utilize the Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026, when processing contraventions of the operating rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Offshore Areas Operating Right (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The primary regulatory document issued to amend the existing rules governing mineral operations in offshore areas.
Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002: The parent legislation that grants the Central Government the power to regulate mineral development and make rules for offshore areas.
Ministry of Mines: The central government ministry responsible for the administration and notification of these mineral-related rules.
Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024: The principal set of rules that define operating rights in offshore zones, specifically targeted for amendment by this notification.
Offshore Areas Mineral Adjudication of Penalties Rules, 2026: The referenced legal framework used to determine and adjudicate penalties for violations under the amended rules.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-30072026-274992
CG-DxLx-xEG-I3D0H0x7x2x0 26-274992
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 626] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतिार, िुलाई 30, 2026/श्रािण 8, 1948
No. 626] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2026/SHRAVAN 8, 1948
खान मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 30 िुलाई, 2026
सा.का.जन. 688(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 संदिया संबंधी अजधकार जनयम, 2024 का
संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अर्ाात्:—
1. सजं क्षप्त नाम और प्रारंभ. —(1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम अपतट क्षेत्र संदिया संबंधी अजधकार (संिोधन) जनयम,
2026 ह।ै
(2) ये जनयम 1 अगस्ट्त, 2026 को प्रिृत्त होंगे।
2. अपतट क्षेत्र संदिया संबंधी अजधकार जनयम, 2024 म,ें जनयम 32 के स्ट्र्ान पर जनम्नजलजखत जनयम रखा िाएगा,
अर्ाात:्—
5868 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
"32. िा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-6)]
कुलिीर ससह यािि, संयुि सजचि
टटप्पण.— मूल जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उप-खंड (i) म ें अजधसूचना संख्या
सा.का.जन. 646(अ), तारीख 16 अिूबर, 2024 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए र्।े
MINISTRY OF MINES
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th July, 2026
G.S.R. 688(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 to
amend the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024, namely: —
1. Short title and commencement: — (1) These rules may be called the Offshore Areas Operating Right
(Amendment) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the 1st day of August, 2026.
2. In the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024, for rule 32, the following rule shall be substituted,
namely: —
“32. 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 6)]
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. 646 (E) dated the 16th October, 2024.
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