13 August 2026 at 06:03 pm IST
The Lok Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 on August 12, introducing reforms aimed at strengthening India’s mineral sector and supporting greater exploration and development of critical minerals. The reforms are particularly relevant to minerals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite and nickel, which are essential for electric vehicles, battery storage, renewable-energy technologies, semiconductors and other strategic industries. Increasing domestic availability of these resources could help India strengthen its supply chains for clean-energy and advanced manufacturing. The Bill also seeks to provide greater flexibility in mining and mineral development. Among its provisions are measures allowing additional minerals to be included in existing mining leases, expanding the role of the National Mineral Exploration Trust to cover mineral development, and providing greater flexibility in the sale of minerals from captive mines. By encouraging more exploration and improving the framework for mineral development, the reforms could help expand India's domestic mineral resource base and reduce vulnerabilities associated with dependence on external supplies. This is increasingly important as demand for critical minerals grows alongside electrification, battery deployment and renewable-energy expansion.
