Parliament on Tuesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, aimed at liberalising, modernising, and making India’s mineral sector more dynamic, with a strong focus on critical and strategic minerals. The bill, which amends the original Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, was approved by the Lok Sabha on August 12 and cleared by the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote. During the debate, 19 members contributed suggestions to improve the legislation.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy stated that the Narendra Modi-led government has introduced transformative reforms in the coal and mining sector over the past decade. Highlighting the importance of critical minerals, he said India heavily depends on imports due to limited domestic reserves. With demand for critical minerals expected to grow significantly, the government plans to boost domestic production while also exploring global markets to ensure supply security.

One major change introduced by the bill is the renaming of the National Mineral Exploration Trust to the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust, expanding its mandate to include both domestic and international exploration and development.

BJP leader Kiran Choudhary called the bill “a forward-looking reform” that had been pending for a long time. She emphasized that the legislation is not just about minerals but about securing India’s economic security and sustainable development. India ranks third globally in mineral wealth, but the sector faces challenges such as outdated regulations, fragmented leases, and lack of accountability. The new amendments aim to address these gaps, ensuring transparency, sustainability, and community participation in mining projects.