The Indian government has strongly denied news reports claiming that private companies will now be allowed to explore and mine atomic minerals like uranium and thorium from offshore areas.

These reports came after the government recently notified new rules called the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Rights Rules, 2025. However, the Ministry of Mines clarified that the media reports are "misleading and factually incorrect".

The ministry said that the new rules clearly mention that only the government, government companies, or government-owned corporations can be given permission to mine atomic minerals. These minerals are very sensitive, as they are related to nuclear energy and national security.

The ministry explained that Parliament had already made this clear through a law passed in 2023. The law, called the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2023, came into effect on 17th August 2023.

According to 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."

They also added that "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 clearly state that "the rules provide the procedure for the grant of operating rights for atomic minerals only to the Government, government companies, or corporations."

The ministry said, "In light of the above, the media reports appear to be not consistent with the facts and provisions of the relevant acts, rules, and policy frameworks governing atomic minerals in India."

Finally, the government added that it is committed to transparency, following the law, and ensuring that atomic mineral mining stays under strict control due to national security concerns.

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