(1)

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for the purposes of this Act.

(2)

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—

(a) the terms and conditions of a reconnaissance permit, exploration licence or production lease under sub-section (1) of section 5;

(b) conditions for grant of operating right under clause (b) of section 6;

(c) substances to be prescribed under proviso to section 6;

(d) the requisite technical ability and financial resources to undertake exploration operation on scientific parameters under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 12;

(e) the manner in which a work programme shall be prepared and the data by which the work programme shall be supported under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 12;

(f) the manner of transfer referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 12;

(g) the time within which the applications under sub-section (3) of section 12 are to be received;

(h) the requisite technical ability and financial resources to undertake production operation on scientific parameters under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 13;

(i) the manner in which a work programme shall be prepared and the data by which the work programme shall be supported under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13;

(j) the manner of transfer referred to in sub-clause (II) of clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 13;

(k) norms for regulating the safety and health of persons and safety of property engaged in operations authorised under this Act, the implementation thereof and matters connected therewith under sub-section (2) of section 19;

(l) the measures to be taken for prevention and control of pollution and protection of marine environment due to activities in the offshore areas under sub-section (3) of section 20;

(m) the manner of filing application under sub-section (3) of section 28;

(n) the manner of filing reply under sub-section (4) of section 28;

(o) any other matter under clause (f) of sub-section (5) of section 28;

(p) the period within which appeal shall be preferred under, and the further period which may be permitted under the proviso to, sub-section (2) of section 34;

(q) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed under this Act.

(3)

Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.