Introduction
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
("1957 Act") was the principal legislation that was
enacted with a view to regulate the minerals and mining sector in
India. The 1957 Act has undergone meticulous amendments in the
years 2015, 2016, and 2020 to bring sweeping reforms in the mineral
sector with the changing times. To effusively utilize the potential
of the mineral sector, increase employment opportunities and
investment in the mining sector including coal, resolve long
pending issues that have slowed the growth of the mining sector,
the Ministry of Coal, Government of India introduced the Mines and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 which
sought to amend the 1957 Act. On 28th March 2021, The Mines and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021
("Amendment Act, 2021") received assent
from the President of India and was published in the Official
Gazette by the Government of India.
