Latest news with #MinesandMinerals(DevelopmentandRegulation)AmendmentBill
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Lok Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill
The Lok Sabha passed the key amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act on Tuesday. Lok Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill The amendments make way for widening the scope and territorial domain of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to enable use of the funds accrued to the Trust within India, including the offshore areas, and outside India for the purposes of exploration and development of mines and minerals, ministry officials said. HT had reported on July 18, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, which is expected to be tabled during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament will help fast-track mining of critical minerals and operationalise the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). The bill renames the NMET as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust to reflect its enlarged scope and increase the amount of payment to the Trust by the lessees from present 2% of the royalty payable to 3%. It enables the inclusion of any new mineral in a mining lease subject to the conditions prescribed by the Central Government. Further it also enables a one-time extension of the area under a mining lease or composite licence to include therein a contiguous area not exceeding 10% or 30% respectively, of the existing area under the lease or licence subject to such terms and conditions and additional payment as may be prescribed in rules by the Centre. 'This will promote optimal mining of deep-seated minerals which are locked up in contiguous areas and may not be economically viable to be extracted under a separate lease or licence,' officials said. 'The mining sector is a key driver of the nation's progress, with critical minerals playing an essential role in renewable energy, electric mobility, and cutting-edge technologies. However, India's domestic production of these critical minerals is limited, leaving us heavily dependent on imports,' said G Kishan Reddy, Union minister of coal and mines. 'From solar panels to wind turbines, agriculture to medical equipment, electronics to electricity, cell phones to aircraft, and defence to sports, critical minerals play a significant role across every sector,' he added.
United News of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- United News of India
Lok Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill by voice vote
New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 by voice vote. The Bill aims to ensure the benefits of the mining sector reach the common people, introduce transparency in the allocation of mines and promote development in the sector. While presenting the bill in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, said the proposed amendments aim to boost employment opportunities and ensure that tribals and those linked to the mining sector directly benefit from the reforms. He pointed out that prior to the Modi government, mine allocations were done with minimal oversight, allowing mafia groups to dominate the sector. This led to the Supreme Court cancelling 104 mine allocations due to corruption. He emphasised that the scenario has now significantly improved. Reddy also mentioned that the mining sector was once controlled by politically influential individuals and marred by exploitation. In contrast, he said, the current environment fosters development, with common citizens now seeing real benefits. Taking a dig at the Opposition members who were protesting the bill, he said that their opposition stems from a lack of faith in the people. Earlier, during the debate, BJP MP Malavika Devi highlighted that mine allocations were previously handled in an unethical manner, but reforms have changed that. She said the bill would help uplift the poor and improve the nation's global standing by ensuring transparency in mining. BJP's Brijmohan Agrawal called the legislation a key step towards the development of tribal regions, stating that it would benefit marginalized communities. CM Gurumoorthy Maddila of the YSR Congress and G Lakshminarayan from the Telugu Desam Party also took part in the discussion. UNI RBE SSP Various schemes to financially support divyang's healthcare: Govt 12 Aug 2025 | 8:28 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) The Government today told Parliament that a slew of schemes aimed at improving healthcare access and financial support for persons with disabilities (PwD) has been launched for the welfare of the sector in the past few years. see more.. Parliament adjourns till Aug 18 amid Opposition ruckus over Bihar's SIR 12 Aug 2025 | 8:21 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Both Houses of Parlaiment --Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - adjourned today till August 18 after wrapping up key legislative business amid vocal protests by the Opposition over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. see more.. Over 1 75 cr diagnoised with diabetes & hypertension in last 6 months: Govt 12 Aug 2025 | 6:51 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Over 1.11 crore and 64 lakhs people respectively have been diagnosed for hypertension and diabetes under the central health programme in the last six months till June this year, the government told Rajya Sabha today. see more.. LS Speaker forms 3-member panel to probe charges against Justice Yashwant Varma 12 Aug 2025 | 4:41 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today constituted a three-member committee to probe the charges against Allahabad High Court Judge Yashwant Varma. This follows the alleged discovery of burnt cash at his official Delhi residence after a fire in March 2025, when he was a Delhi High Court Judge The committee would comprise Justice Arvind Kumar of the Supreme Court, Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, and Senior Advocate at the Karnataka High Court BV Acharya. see more..
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Lok Sabha passes bill to increase production, processing of critical minerals
Lok Sabha passes bill to increase production, processing of critical minerals Lok Sabha passes bill to increase production, processing of critical minerals 1 2 NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill which seeks to provide a simpler regime for promoting conservation of minerals, zero waste mining and support the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission, given the significance of critical and strategic minerals in the development of the country. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, was passed after brief debate, with Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy stating that every sector is dependent on critical minerals. The significance of critical and strategic minerals in the development of the country is continuously increasing and recent global geo-political developments has constricted the supply-chains of these minerals. The Centre launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector. Under this mission, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been tasked with conducting 1,200 exploration projects from 2024-25 to 2030-31. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill was passed amid sloganeering by opposition members over their demand for debate on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. In his reply to the debate on the bill, G Kishan Reddy said that India has less production of critical minerals and is largely dependent on imports. The bill seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and also seeks to promote extraction of deep-seated minerals. The minister said efforts have been stepped up since 2015 to boost the availability of critical minerals in the country. "We are moving in the right direction," he said. He emphasised that everyone should understand the value of critical minerals, as every sector, "from electricity and medical equipment to automobiles, defence, solar, and space, is heavily dependent on them". Kishan Reddy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visits abroad, seeks to expand cooperation in critical minerals. He also attacked opposition parties over disruption in the House, saying they "do not have faith on the Supreme Court, Election Commission". The minister said the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, is an important bill for the mining sector. "Mining sector will be an important pillar and will have a big role in India's journey to Viksit Bhart by 2047," he said. In his brief remarks while moving the bills for passing, Kishan Reddy said critical minerals is the need of the hour and sought unanimous support for the legislation. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 has been amended several times over the years. The last amendment made in the Act in 2023 focused on increasing exploration and production of critical and strategic minerals in the country by introducing a new list of 24 critical and strategic minerals; empowering the Central Government to auction mineral concessions in respect of such minerals and introduction of exploration licence for critical and deep-seated minerals. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, there is need to provide a dynamic market mechanism for minerals backed by a robust regulatory regime with the increased availability and demand of minerals in the country. "Setting up of mineral exchanges will help miners and end-users of minerals in determining fair and transparent market prices based on supply and demand dynamics, stabilise markets and aid in budgeting and planning. This will promote investment in mining sector and infrastructure related to transport and storage," the statement said. The bill seeks to remove the limit on the sale of minerals from the captive mines so that miners can sell minerals after meeting the requirements of the end-use plant linked with the mine and on payment of an additional amount specified in the Act. It seeks to allow the sale of dumps which have been stacked up to such date as may be specified by the Central Government in captive leases which cannot be captively utilised to reduce environmental hazards and increase safety in mine workings, bring more minerals to the market and provide additional revenue to the States. India is mostly dependent on the import of critical minerals. A National Critical Mineral Mission has been launched to increase domestic production, including from the offshore areas of India, secure supply chains from outside India and promote processing of critical minerals. "There is an urgent need to further amend the Act to support the National Critical Mineral Mission in its objectives," the statement said. The bill seeks to empower the Central Government to promote the development of the market, including trading, of minerals, their concentrates or their processed forms (including metals) through mineral exchanges. It seeks to widen the scope and territorial domain of the National Mineral Exploration Trust to enable the use of the funds accrued to the Trust within India, including the offshore areas, and outside India for the purposes of exploration and development of mines and minerals. The bill seeks to enable one-time extension of the area under a mining lease or composite licence to include therein a contiguous area not exceeding ten per cent. or thirty per cent., respectively, of the existing area under the lease or licence subject to such terms and conditions and additional payment as may be prescribed in rules by the Central Government. "This will promote optimal mining of deep-seated minerals which are locked up in contiguous areas and may not be economically viable to be extracted under a separate lease or licence," the statement said. The bill seeks to rename the Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust to reflect its enlarged scope and increase the amount of payment to the Trust by the lessees from present two per cent. of the royalty payable to three per cent. of the royalty payable; It seeks to enable the inclusion of any new mineral in a mining lease, subject to the conditions prescribed by the Central Government and the additional amount payable as specified in the proposed Eighth Schedule to the Act. No additional amount is applicable on inclusion of critical and strategic mineral or minerals specified in the Seventh Schedule to the Act to incentivise production of these minerals which are found in small quantity and are difficult to mine and process.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Lok Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, 2025
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, by a voice vote, despite ongoing protests from Opposition members over the Election Commission's revision of Bihar's electoral rolls. Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy , during the brief discussion, noted the Bill's importance for the mining sector and India's economic development, particularly in the context of critical and strategic minerals. The new legislation, which seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, introduces several key changes aimed at boosting mineral exploration and production in the country. A major provision is the expansion of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) under which funds can be used for the exploration and development of mines and minerals both within India (including offshore areas) and outside the country. This move is seen as a strategic step to secure critical mineral assets abroad. The Bill also mandates an increase in the amount paid to the Trust by lessees. The payment will rise from the current 2 per cent of the royalty payable to 3 per cent. The trust will also be renamed as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust, reflecting its widened scope.
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
LS clears Mines Amendment Bill; House adjourned till August 18
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 by voice vote, even as Opposition members continued to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. The Bill, moved by Union Minister for Mines G. Kishan Reddy, seeks to overhaul India's mining framework to promote transparency, boost domestic production, and secure critical mineral supply chains. As the House reassembled at 4:30 p.m., the protests resumed with Opposition MPs shouting slogans from the Well, demanding a debate on the SIR exercise. Presiding over the session, Jagdambika Pal repeatedly urged members to return to their seats, reminding them that the Supreme Court had "upheld the Election Commission's stand" and that the matter was sub judice. "Why are you coming to the Well before the House Well?" he asked, as papers were flung toward the Chair. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Opposition for tossing pieces of paper at the Chair and said he had never witnessed such behaviour in his life. The Chair also reprimanded Opposition members, naming Gaurav Gogoi and alleging, "You are encouraging your fellow members to toss pieces of paper." Despite the chaos, the Bill was taken up for consideration. Minister Reddy said the legislation would ensure royalty benefits for states, incentivise exploration of deep-seated minerals, and modernise the sector through technology-driven reforms. He emphasised that the Bill aligns with India's National Critical Mineral Mission and aims to reduce dependence on imports of strategic resources like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. A key provision of the Bill is the establishment of mineral and metal trading exchanges - electronic platforms that will allow real-time trading of minerals and processed metals. These exchanges are expected to bring transparency, curb cartelisation, and attract investment in mining infrastructure. The Bill also proposes to rename and expand the scope of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), now to be called the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT), with powers to invest in overseas acquisitions of critical mineral blocks. During the debate, several MPs spoke in support of the Bill. Malvika Devi (BJP, Kalahandi), G. Laxminarayan (TDP, Anantapuram), Gurumoorthy Maddila (YSRCP, Tirupati), Brijmohan Agrawal (BJP, Raipur), and Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo (BJP, Bolangir) highlighted the Bill's potential to boost employment, enhance state revenues, and strengthen India's strategic autonomy in mineral sourcing. Jagdambika Pal, responding to the disruptions, asked pointedly, "Do you oppose financial gain for the states? What are you opposing?" His appeals, however, were drowned out by continued sloganeering and paper-throwing from the Opposition benches. The Bill marks a significant update to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, with previous amendments in 2015 and 2021. It introduces simplified licensing, expanded territorial scope for exploration, and adjudicatory mechanisms for dispute resolution. Also, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. She also moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee of the House. To which the chair told protesting members of the Opposition, "Did you hear what the finance minister said? Will you oppose the Bill to be referred to the select committee?" However, the members of the Opposition kept on shouting slogans. The Speaker will decide the members of the committee and the terms and conditions regarding the panel. The Committee shall submit its report by the first day of the next session. Following the passage of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, the Chair adjourned the House till Monday, August 18, as the Monsoon Session continued to be marred by repeated disruptions over electoral transparency and procedural demands.
