The government has refuted reports claiming that it has permitted private entities to mine and explore atomic minerals such as uranium and thorium from the country's offshore regions by notifying the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Rules, 2025.
Calling such media reports "misleading and factually incorrect", the Ministry of Mines stated that the recently notified Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Rules, 2025, grant operating rights exclusively to government entities.
Atomic Mining Rights Restricted
The Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Rights Rules, 2025 provide the procedure for the grant of operating rights for atomic mineral only to the government, government companies, or corporations and not to 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 explicitly restricts the grant of exploration licences, composite licences, or production leases for atomic minerals (specified in Part B of the First Schedule to the MMDR Act, 1957) to the Government, Government companies, or corporations only, subject to prescribed conditions and threshold values notified by the Central Government.
Further, under Section 35 of the OAMDR Act, 2002, the Central Government is empowered to frame rules for the effective implementation of the Act. Accordingly, the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Rights Rules, 2025 were notified on 14th July 2025 in consultation with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the nodal department 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,” stated the ministry.
“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 said it reaffirms its commitment to transparency, adherence to legislative mandates, and ensuring that the exploration and mining of atomic minerals remain under strict regulatory control in accordance with national security and policy considerations.
Meanwhile, Kerala's government has strongly opposed the private sector's involvement in offshore atomic-minerals mining amid escalating tensions over deep-sea mining, citing threats to the marine ecosystem, public sector PSUs, and fishermen's livelihoods, reported The New Indian Express. This indicates a sharp federal dispute despite the Center's firm regulatory assurances.
Criticising the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Rules, 2025, Industries Minister P Rajeeve told The New Indian Express, “This is a unilateral move by the Centre. Despite the fact that atomic mineral-rich seabeds lie off Kerala’s coast, no consultation was held with the state. It’s a clear violation of federal principles and an encroachment on constitutional rights.”
