Indian Antarctic Act Amendments to Come Into Force from September 30

The amendments made to the offences and penalties provisions under the Indian Antarctic Act, 2022, will come into force from September 30, 2026. The changes were introduced through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, and have now been formally notified by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The Indian Antarctic Act provides India with a legal and regulatory framework for activities carried out in Antarctica. It supports the country’s scientific, environmental and administrative responsibilities in the Antarctic region and ensures that Indian activities there follow a structured legal mechanism.

The latest amendments relate mainly to penalty and adjudication provisions under the Act. One of the key changes concerns Section 41, which deals with penalties for contravention of certain provisions by individuals. Another amendment applies to Section 44, which covers penalties for offences where a specific penalty has not been separately mentioned in the Act.

Earlier, Section 44 provided that any person who violated the provisions of the Act, or failed to comply with duties under it, could be punished with a fine extending up to ₹10 lakh when no specific penalty was provided elsewhere in the law.

The amended provisions now introduce a clearer adjudication process for such penalties. Under the new framework, the Central Government can appoint an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India as an adjudicating officer. This officer will be responsible for conducting inquiries and imposing penalties where required.

According to the government notification, the Centre has appointed September 30, 2026, as the date from which the relevant provisions of the Jan Vishwas Act relating to the Indian Antarctic Act will take effect. This means the amended penalty and adjudication-related provisions under the Indian Antarctic Act will become operational from that date.

The move is part of a wider effort to simplify legal compliance while keeping regulatory safeguards intact. By creating a defined adjudication mechanism, the amendments are expected to make enforcement under the Indian Antarctic Act more structured, transparent and administratively efficient.

The changes also strengthen India’s legal preparedness for its growing scientific and strategic engagement in Antarctica. As India continues to expand its polar research activities, a clear regulatory framework becomes important for environmental protection, accountability and responsible conduct in one of the world’s most sensitive regions.