10 August 2024

The Central Government has established the Offshore Areas Mineral Trust under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002. The Trust includes a Governing Body and an Executive Committee.

Governing Body:

• Chairperson: Union Minister of Mines.
• Members: Include Union Ministers or their nominees from Ministries of Fisheries, New and Renewable Energy, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Earth Sciences, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Science and Technology; Minister of State for Mines; Minister of State for Atomic Energy, Home Affairs, and Defence; three State Ministers from coastal states nominated by the Chairperson on a rotating basis; Secretary of the Ministry of Mines; and up to five special invitees with relevant experience.

Executive Committee:

• Chairperson: Secretary of the Ministry of Mines.
• Members: Joint Secretaries from the Ministries of Fisheries, Atomic Energy, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Earth Sciences, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Scientific and Industrial Research; Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor from the Ministry of Mines; Director General of the Geological Survey of India; Controller General of the Indian Bureau of Mines; the Administering Authority under the Act; one representative from each of three coastal state governments; and five nominated experts with experience in related fields.

This notification becomes effective upon its publication in the Official Gazette.