New Delhi, April 7 -- The Ministry of Mines has notified the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy Minerals) Concession (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing provisions to include contiguous areas and associated minerals within existing mining leases.
The notification provides a framework for extending mining lease (ML) and composite licence (CL) areas for deep-seated minerals. It also enables inclusion of additional minerals, covering both major and minor categories, within existing leases.
These changes follow amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2025, effective September 1, 2025.
The Ministry of Mines said the reforms aim to boost explorati...