India plans comprehensive overhaul of 66-year-old mining law framework

The Ministry of Mines is undertaking a significant legislative reform to modernize India's mining regulatory framework, sources within the government confirmed. The proposed overhaul would replace the 1957 MMDR Act—which has governed India's mining sector for nearly seven decades—with a consolidated legal structure incorporating contemporary governance principles and ease-of-doing-business provisions.

While the existing Act has undergone periodic amendments to address evolving sectoral requirements, government officials believe a comprehensive legislative replacement is necessary to fully integrate modern regulatory approaches. The new mining law is intended to reflect the Centre's broader policy push toward administrative efficiency and business-friendly governance across all economic sectors.

Government assessments highlight the mining and minerals sector's critical importance for India's economic growth, technological advancement, and meeting national strategic objectives. The proposed legislation is positioned as essential infrastructure for achieving the government's developmental ambitions through 2047, with officials emphasizing the need for streamlined regulations that can support long-term sectoral growth while maintaining regulatory oversight.

An inter-ministerial task is reportedly being organized to facilitate the drafting process, indicating the government's commitment to progressing the legislative initiative. The comprehensive review reflects broader recognition that India's mining sector requires modernized legal frameworks capable of supporting both economic expansion and the nation's critical mineral security requirements.