This article is originally published in Legal 500 at Legal Landscapes: India- Mining.
1. What is the current legal landscape for Mining Law in your jurisdiction?
The Indian mining sector operates within a comprehensive statutory and regulatory framework. Under the Constitution of India, state governments are responsible for administering mineral resources within their respective territories. However, the central government retains the legislative authority in cases where the central parliament has declared that central control over mines and minerals is necessary in the public interest. The principal statute governing mining projects in India is the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (“MMDR Act”), supported by the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 and a wide range of mineral-specific, environmental, land, safety, and state-level legislations.