Mining bill to ease exploration of critical minerals

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), people familiar with the matter said.

- Jayashree Nandi

The draft legislation is expected to facilitate sourcing, exploration and mining of critical minerals outside India.

NCCM envisions securing a long-term sustainable supply of critical minerals and strengthening India’s critical mineral value chains encompassing all stages from mineral exploration and mining to beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.

A key aspect of the mission is also acquisition of critical mineral assets abroad.

Under the mission, funds for domestic critical mineral exploration and exploration activities abroad are to be funded by National Mineral Exploration Trust, which can currently only be utilised for domestic reserves.