Parliament has passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod after the Lok Sabha cleared it earlier this week. The Bill will become law once it receives the President’s assent.
The legislation introduces sweeping changes to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, aimed at facilitating exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals.
Key provisions include:
- Flexibility for leaseholders: Existing mining leaseholders can add multiple minerals to their leases by approaching state governments.
- No extra payment: Inclusion of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, gold, and silver will not require additional payment.
- Royalty & premium: For other minerals, leaseholders must pay applicable royalty, and in auctioned mines, the auction premium.
- Minor minerals inclusion: Leases for major minerals may also include minor minerals like building stones, gravel, and sand, with royalty determined by state governments.
- Exclusion of atomic minerals: Atomic minerals above specified grades cannot be included in non‑atomic leases.
- Expanded exploration funding: The National Mineral Exploration Trust will have a wider mandate to support mineral exploration.
Officials say the reforms will boost India’s critical mineral supply chain, reduce import dependence, and encourage private sector participation in exploration.
