Overview

• Rajya Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 by voice vote on August 19 after debate.
• The Lok Sabha had cleared the legislation on August 12, completing parliamentary approval.
• The law renames the National Mineral Exploration Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust and permits its funds to be used within India, offshore areas, and overseas for exploration and development.
• Union minister G Kishan Reddy said the overhaul will modernise the sector and strengthen supply chains for critical and strategic minerals, while opposition parties walked out over the Bihar electoral-roll revision and flagged state-rights, revenue and environmental concerns.
• The legislation now moves to presidential assent before central rules are framed and implementation proceeds with states.