A nine-member committee will review India’s 2019 National Mineral Policy, with recommendations due within two months as the government prioritises critical minerals, recycling and supply-chain resilience.
India’s Mines Ministry is preparing a fresh look at the National Mineral Policy, 2019, as the government moves to recalibrate mining rules around newer priorities such as critical minerals, recycling and deep-sea resources. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, officials have decided to set up a nine-member panel to carry out a full review of the policy and identify provisions that need to be changed.
The committee will be chaired by the Additional Secretary in the Mines Ministry and has been asked to submit its recommendations within two months of being constituted, the report said. Its mandate is expected to go beyond minor amendments, with a remit to recommend a comprehensive rewrite that reflects how the sector has evolved since the policy was introduced.
The 2019 framework, approved by the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was designed to strengthen regulation, improve transparency and promote sustainable mining while also addressing the concerns of project-affected communities, especially in tribal areas. It also sought to encourage exploration, draw in private investment, improve the ease of doing business and support more scientific mining practices.
Industry figures say a review has become necessary because the policy landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. B K Bhatia, a mining industry expert and former director general of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, told The Hindu BusinessLine that the revised policy should help unlock India’s mineral potential, attract investment and advanced technology, and strengthen mineral security. Pankaj Satija, co-chair of the FICCI Mining Committee, said a fresh approach would align the policy with national priorities, supply-chain resilience, domestic value addition and the push for responsible mining, including through the National Critical Mineral Mission.
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