Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, 2026.

Gist The Lok Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Bill amid strong Opposition protests and without a formal debate. The legislation strips State governments of their power to impose additional taxes or cesses on mineral rights, centralizing regulatory control over mineral-rich lands to stabilize the mining sector. Background State governments have historically exercised the authority to levy varying fiscal charges on mineral rights within their jurisdictions. This Bill amends the parent Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, transferring greater regulatory control over mineral-laden lands to the Union government to prevent disparate state-level taxation that complicates the national mining sector. Key Pointers - Eliminating state-level levies is intended to stabilize domestic supply chains , as divergent local taxes previously increased costs and incentivized cheaper mineral imports. - The legislation fundamentally shifts regulatory and fiscal control over mineral-bearing lands from the States to the Centre, prompting Opposition arguments that the move undermines the constitutional principle of federalism. - By blocking States from levying independent cesses, the Centre aims to create a uniform, predictable fiscal environment for the…