"Government Launches First Offshore Mineral Block Auction in Andaman Sea"
Composite Licence
a single licence combining exploration and mining rights for a mineral block
OAMDR Act, 2002
law governing mineral development in India's territorial waters, continental shelf and EEZ
India's offshore mineral regime is governed by the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act), which applies to India's territorial waters, continental shelf, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). For decades, this law provided only for administratively granted reconnaissance and exploration permits, with no competitive allocation mechanism. A 2023 amendment to the OAMDR Act changed this by empowering the Union government to auction offshore blocks, and the Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 now lay down the actual bidding process, granting a Composite Licence that bundles exploration and mining rights together, similar in spirit to the composite licence introduced for onshore critical minerals under the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
This offshore regime differs sharply from the onshore mineral framework in one important respect: federal division of power. Onshore, the Union notifies which minerals count as 'minor minerals', but states still retain rule-making authority over minor mineral concessions located within their territory. Offshore areas beyond 12 nautical miles fall entirely outside any state's jurisdiction under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976. There is no state role at all in offshore mineral governance; it is exclusively administered by the Union, making this a cleaner, fully centralised regulatory space compared to onshore mining.
The auction covers two offshore blocks in the Andaman Sea, to be granted as Composite Licences. The target minerals, cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper, and rare earth elements, are precisely the metals used in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy systems, and advanced electronics. Global supply chains for these minerals are heavily concentrated in a handful of countries, so developing a domestic offshore source is framed as part of India's broader mineral and technology security strategy.
It is useful to separate this offshore EEZ auction from an entirely different regime: deep seabed mining in international waters beyond any country's jurisdiction, known as 'the Area' under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). …
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories.
Statement II: In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements:
1.The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2.India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3.'Rare earth minerals' are present on the seafloor in international waters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to India's offshore mineral regime, consider the following statements:
1.The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 applies to India's territorial waters, continental shelf, and Exclusive Economic Zone.
2.A 2023 amendment to this Act empowered the Union government to auction offshore mineral blocks.
3.State governments have concurrent rule-making power over offshore mineral concessions beyond 12 nautical miles.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match the following mineral governance mechanisms with the authority responsible for licensing:
List I (Mechanism)
A.Offshore mineral blocks within India's EEZ
B.Onshore minor mineral concessions
C.Seabed polymetallic nodule exploration in international waters
List II (Licensing Authority)
1.State Governments (under Central notification)
2.Union Government (Ministry of Mines)
3.International Seabed Authority
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to India's maritime mineral jurisdiction, consider the following statements:
1.State governments exercise jurisdiction over mineral resources up to the full extent of India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
2.India's territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
3.Deep seabed mining beyond national jurisdiction is regulated by the International Seabed Authority under UNCLOS.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following statements about the Composite Licence introduced under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 is correct?
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