NEW DELHI, August 13 — Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, on Thursday, introducing new rules to encourage private investment in exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals.
The bill removes certain critical minerals, including lithium and titanium, from the restricted list of atomic minerals, allowing the government to auction exploration licenses to private companies. It also introduces an exploration license framework for deep-seated minerals like gold, silver, and copper, aimed at accelerating domestic extraction and reducing import dependence.
The Ministry of Mines stated that the reforms will support domestic manufacturing of electronic chips, electric vehicle batteries, and solar equipment.
Economic resources and mineral policy are core parts of geography and economics papers. Candidates should note that the new bill amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.