1[4A. Prospecting, etc., of mineral oils.--- No person shall undertake any operation in any part of India or in its territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone for the purposes of prospecting, exploration, development or production, making merchantable, carrying away or disposing of mineral oils, except under a valid lease granted under this Act and the rules made thereunder: Provided that nothing in this section shall affect any operation undertaken in any area in accordance with the terms and conditions of a license or lease granted before the commencement of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025.]

1[4A. Prospecting, etc., of mineral oils.--- No person shall undertake any operation in any part of India or in its territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone for the purposes of prospecting, exploration, development or production, making merchantable, carrying away or disposing of mineral oils, except under a valid lease granted under this Act and the rules made thereunder: Provided that nothing in this section shall affect any operation undertaken in any area in accordance with the terms and conditions of a license or lease granted before the commencement of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025.]