Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948.

This Act regulates the procedures for licensing the exploitation of natural gas, petroleum, crude oil, refined oil, partially refined oil and any of the products of petroleum in a liquid or solid state. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for regulating the grant of mining leases or for prohibiting the grant of such leases in respect of any mineral oil or any area. In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: (a) the manner in which, the mineral oils or areas in respect of which and the persons by whom, applications for mining lease may be made and fees to be paid on any such applications; (b) the authority by which, the terms on which, and the conditions subject to which, mining leases may be granted; (c) the maximum or minimum area and the period for which any mining lease may be granted and the terms on which leases in respect of contiguous areas may be amalgamated; (d) the fixing of the maximum and minimum rent payable by a lessee, whether the mine is worked or not.