Lok Sabha Question No. 376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Recycling of Important Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 376

ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## RECYCLING OF IMPORTANT MINERALS

†376 SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken to monitor the acquisition of important mineral resources;
- (b) the detail of schemes formulated for domestic production and recycling of important minerals; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to launch a Critical Minerals Mission and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 [MMDR Act, 1957] was amended through MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 with effect from 12.01.2015. The Central Government has introduced the timelines in the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 for execution of mining lease from the date of grant of Letter of Intent to the preferred bidders which  are  selected  through  auction.  Further,  timelines  have  been  prescribed  for commencement of production and  dispatch  from  the  date  of  execution  of  the  mining lease.  Regular  review  meetings  are  held  with  the  State  Governments  to  monitor  and expedite the operationalization of auctioned mines.
- (b): The MMDR Act was amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2021 with effect from 28.03.2021 with the objective of inter-alia increasing mineral production and time bound operationalization of mines, increasing employment and investment in the mining sector, maintaining continuity in mining operations after change of lessee and increasing the pace of exploration and auction of mineral resources.

Some of the major reforms introduced through the said amendment include the following:

(i) Removed the distinction between captive and merchant mines by allowing all captive mines  to  sell  upto  50%  of  the  minerals  produced  during  the  year  after  meeting  the requirement of attached plant subject to the payment of additional amount as prescribed under sixth schedule of the MMDR Act.

(ii)  Removed end-use restriction for future auctions to encourage participation of more bidders in auctions and facilitate increased pace of auctions.

(iii)  All  the  valid  rights,  approvals,  clearances,  etc.  granted  to  the  previous  lessee  in respect of a mine shall continue to be valid on expiry or termination of lease and such clearances  shall  be  transferred  to  the  successful  bidder  of  the  mining  lease  selected through auction.

(iv) To ensure ease of doing business, restrictions on transfer of mineral concessions for non-auctioned mines have been removed.

Thereafter,  the  Central  Government  has  amended  the  MMDR  Act,  1957  through  the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 with effect from 17.08.2023. Through the said amendment the Central Government has been empowered to exclusively auction mining lease and composite licence for 24 critical minerals listed in the new Part-D of the First Schedule to the said Act which includes minerals such as Cobalt, Graphite, Lithium, Nickel, Tantalum, Titanium etc.

The Central Government has unveiled the National Non-ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework, 2020 with the objective to use life cycle management approach for better efficiency  in  mineral  value  chain  process.  It  envisages  bringing  both  product  and processing stewardship to enhance Non-Ferrous Metal recycling.

(c):  The  Hon'ble  Finance  Minister  has  announced  the  launch  of  the  Critical  Mineral Mission in the Union Budget 2024-25 on 23rd July, 2024. The Mission aims to strengthen India's  Critical  Mineral  value  chain  encompassing  all  stages,  starting  from  mineral exploration, mining to beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products and ensure self-sufficiency in meeting the industrial demands.

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