Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Taliban minister discuss agricultural ties (See 'Corp Brief') Union Ministry Launches Integrated Training for Primary Healthcare Teams (See 'Corp Brief') Advancing Women's Leadership at Grassroots, held as part of BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Borrowers who fail to timely invoke MSME framework are precluded from seeking its protection at belated stage after SARFAESI proceedings have commenced: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Bhubaneswar Declaration charts roadmap to transform Tribal Research Institutes into centres of excellence (See 'Corp Brief') TEC signs MoU with BECIL to strengthen Telecom and Broadcasting Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') NLDSL and Punjab sign MoU to strengthen Digital Logistics Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - OP entered into anti-competitive agreements & abused its dominant position by imposing unfair & restrictive conditions on participants in its beauty pageant, in contravention of Sections 3 & 4 - D-G to probe matter: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Kamarajar Port becomes India's Second Major Port with 18-Metre Draft Capability (See 'Corp Brief') Large-Scale Infrastructure Expansion opens up Opportunities for Budding Engineers (See 'Corp Brief') CCI okays merger of 51 Malabar Group's companies into Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Delayed creation of security cannot be treated as transaction in normal course of business: NCLAT (See 'Legal Desk') CCI approves acquisition of equity in Sorting Hat Technologies and merger into upGrad Education (See 'Corp Brief') Atal Innovation Mission Strengthens Eastern India Innovation Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Giriraj Singh to inaugurate 'Indie Haat 2026' (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Rent Tribunal lacks jurisdiction in cases involving entities undergoing CIRP, per Sections 60(5)(c) & 238 of IBC, which confer exclusive jurisdiction upon the Adjudicating Authority in CIRP matters: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Labour Ministry translates objectives of Labour Codes to provide timely relief to workers (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Marks - Mark KREOFLAT is distinctively similar to existing mark of PANKREOFLAT where former copies essential & distinctive features of latter, thereby making the former visually, phonetically & deceptively similar: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CAQM reports 62 air pollution violations across NCR in 17 days; proposes closure of four units (See 'Corp Brief') Utsav & Chintan Shivir 2026 to focus on institutional reforms for a technology-driven, and citizen-centric legal ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Sukesh Chandrashekhar con saga - co-accused gets bail - stringent conditions of Section 45 of PMLA can be relaxed for women, more so considering extraordinary circumstances: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Govt raises onion procurement price by 13% to Rs.2,125 per quintal (See 'Corp Brief') India's last 12 years have been a progression from shortages to building Viksit Bharat: RM (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Writ jurisdiction under Article 226 should ordinarily not be exercised where efficacious alternative remedy exists, particularly in matters arising under the SARFAESI Act: HC (See 'Legal Desk') India's youth will power AI, robotics with Made in India chips: PM (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - Allegations relating to use of private vehicles without commercial permits, non-compliance with Motor Vehicles Act, opaque GST & STA tax practices, & related issues fall outside scope of Competition Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Tech Innovation and disruption in Construction Industry (See 'CORP EINSICHT')

Ministry of Mines to launch Auction of Mineral Blocks in Offshore Areas of India

Published: Nov 28, 2024

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 28, 2024: THE Ministry of Mines, Government of India, will be launching the first-ever tranche of auction of mineral blocks in the offshore areas of India on 28th November 2024. This landmark initiative marks India's entry into the exploration and development of undersea mineral resources within its offshore area. Offshore area of India includes the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and other maritime zones of India.

India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 2 million sq.km. holds significant mineral resources. Offshore minerals are vital to securing India's strategic and economic interests. With the rapid global shift towards technologies reliant on high-demand minerals, such as cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements (REE), and polymetallic nodules, India must develop diverse mineral sources to reduce dependence on imports and stabilize its supply chains.

In August 2023, the Parliament amended the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, mandating auction as mode of allocation of mineral blocks in the offshore areas. This amendment allows the government to streamline the grant of production leases and composite licenses for the exploration and extraction of these resources.

This first tranche includes 13 carefully selected mineral blocks spanning across the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea, featuring a mix of construction sand, limemud, and polymetallic nodules. These minerals are critical for infrastructure development, high-tech manufacturing, and the green energy transition.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey will officially launch this ground-breaking initiative.

Ministry of Mines, Government of India, thrives to mark a transformative chapter in India's mineral exploration journey, with the potential to unlock vast economic and strategic opportunities. By fostering private sector participation, leveraging advanced technologies, and streamlining regulatory frameworks, this initiative underscores the government's commitment to sustainable resource utilization and self-reliance. As India steps into this new frontier of undersea mineral exploration, it aims to not only bolster its industrial and green energy sectors but also secure its position as a global leader in critical minerals.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES