Coal news and updates

Parliament passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, aimed at promoting sustainable mining, zero-waste practices, and advancing the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission.

The bill follows its earlier passage in the Lok Sabha last week amid opposition demands for debate on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.

The bill will further amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The bill provides that lease holders may apply to the state government for adding other minerals to an existing lease. For inclusion of critical and strategic minerals, and other specified minerals, no additional amount needs to be paid. 

These include minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, gold, and silver. The Act establishes the National Mineral Exploration Trust to fund mineral exploration in the country.  The bill widens the scope of the Trust to also fund development of mines and minerals.

Under the Act, captive mines are allowed to sell up to 50 percent of minerals produced in a year, after meeting end-use requirements. The bill removes the limit on sale of minerals. The bill provides for establishing an authority to register and regulate mineral exchanges.