Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 14: Reportedly passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, 2026 and by the Rajya Sabha on August 13 2026, and now awaiting the Presidential assent, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 with a new Section 9D is reportedly going to expand central control over mineral‑bearing lands, restrict the state government’s taxation powers, and reform mining lease and captive mine rules.
The Centre has reportedly contended that, it “aims to ensure uniform mineral rates, boost critical mineral exploration and strengthen mineral security.”
The key provisions of this Amended Bill have reportedly added: “mineral‑bearing lands to the definition in Section 2 of the MMDR Act”, and have also reportedly made “regulation of such lands a central function, alongside existing mine regulation.”
Reportedly, “The new Section 9D prohibits the State Governments from imposing taxes, cesses or levies on mineral rights or mineral‑bearing lands based on mineral quantity, value, or royalty unless prescribed by the Centre. Any such levy not deposited/recovered before the Act’s commencement is deemed invalid; amounts already collected are not refundable.”
Also, the Amended Bill reportedly “allows leaseholders to add other minerals (including lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver) to existing leases without extra payment for specified minerals.”
Reportedly, the Amended Bill further states: “State Governments set royalties for other minerals; auctioned mines pay applicable premium, and minor minerals (sand, gravel, building stone) can be added to major mineral leases; major minerals can be added to minor mineral leases under the Central rules.”
The Amended Bill also reportedly “removes the 50% sales cap on captive mine output, enabling full commercial sale after meeting end‑use needs”, while the ‘National Mineral Exploration Trust’ has reportedly been renamed to ‘National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust’, that now funds both exploration and mine development.”
