Sector Policies

• Ministry of Coal has formulated strategy to develop an integrated approach for eliminating road transportation of coal in mines and has taken steps to upgrade mechanized coal transportation and loading system under ‘First Mile Connectivity’ projects.
• MCDR have been framed under section 18 of the MMDR Act, 1957.
• The MCR, 2016 has been amended to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Amendment) Act, 1957 w.e.f. 28.03.2021 with the objectives of increasing employment and investment in the mining sector, increase revenue to the States, increase the production and time bound operationalisation of mines, increase the pace of exploration and auction of mineral resources, etc.
• The Government has amended the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act 1957 (MMDR Act). The amendment removed discretion by instituting auction to be the sole method of grant of major mineral concessions and, thereby bringing in greater transparency. It also provided the much-needed impetus to the mining industry by deemed extension of mining leases.
• National Mineral Exploration Policy 2019, the aim on the National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2019 is to have an effective, meaningful and implementable policy that brings further transparency, better regulation and enforcement, balanced social and economic growth as well as sustainable mining practices. The NMP 2019 focuses on the Government’s Make in India initiative and gender sensitivity in terms of its vision.21 The NMP 2019 aims to attract private investment through incentives while the efforts would be made to maintain a database of mineral resources and tenements under the mining tenement system.
• Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to introduce the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in Speciality Steel Sector through the Ministry of Steel of with a financial outlay of INR 6322 cr over a five-year period for Enhancing India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports – Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Mission Purvodaya emphasized to harness the untapped potential of the region to fuel the next wave of national growth. The focus was on Eastern India towards self-reliance and contribution in the making of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. India’s annual per capita steel consumption is 74.1 kg and is one-third the global average (224.5kg).
• National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) – Collation, assimilation, and integration of the data generated from the National Geoscience Data Repository and Geochemical, Geophysical, and Aero Geophysical Mapping Programs to identify more areas for mineral exploration.
• National Mineral Policy, 2019 inter alia provides that dedicated mineral corridors shall be planned to facilitate transport of minerals from mining areas in hinterland alongwith encouraging the local evacuation networks to be built in an integrated manner.