New Delhi, Aug 6: The government has rejected reports claiming it allowed private sector involvement in the exploration and mining of atomic minerals like uranium and thorium from the country’s offshore areas through the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Rules, 2025.
The Ministry of Mines described the media reports as "misleading and factually incorrect."
The Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Rights Rules, 2025 outline the process for granting operating rights for atomic minerals exclusively to the government, government-owned companies, or corporations, not private entities.
“It is important to state that Parliament, through the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2023, amended the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, effective from 17th August 2023,” said the ministry.
The first proviso to Section 6 of the OAMDR Act, 2002 clearly limits the issuance of exploration licenses, composite licenses, or production leases for atomic minerals (listed in Part B of the First Schedule to the MMDR Act, 1957) to the government, government-owned companies, or corporations, subject to the conditions and threshold values set by the Central Government.
Additionally, under Section 35 of the OAMDR Act, 2002, the Central Government has the authority to create rules for the effective enforcement of the Act. As a result, the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Rights Rules, 2025 were notified on July 14, 2025, after consultation with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the agency responsible for regulating atomic minerals.
“The rules provide the procedure for the grant of operating rights for atomic mineral only to the Government, Government companies, or corporations. In light of the above, the media reports appear to be not consistent with the facts, provisions of the relevant Acts, Rules, and policy frameworks governing atomic minerals in India,” the ministry further informed.
The government reiterated its commitment to transparency, compliance with legislative mandates, and ensuring that the exploration and mining of atomic minerals are strictly regulated, in line with national security and policy priorities.
