The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002

The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 was enacted to regulate the exploration and mining of minerals in India's offshore areas. The act establishes the framework for granting exploration licenses and mining leases, and provides guidelines for the conservation and sustainable development of offshore minerals. The act also empowers the central government to make rules and regulations related to offshore mining and mineral exploration. Additionally, the act imposes penalties for non-compliance with the provisions of the act.