On 14 Oct 2025, the Ministry of Mines announced that limestone has been classified as a major mineral completely. An order dated 13th October, 2025 under section 20A of the MMDR Act was issued to facilitate smooth regulatory transition of existing minor mineral leases of limestone to major mineral lease.
The decision was taken based on recommendations of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mines & Minerals Sector constituted under the chairmanship of Member NITI Aayog.
The classification of all types of limestone as major mineral will promote ease of doing business as the lease holders will be able to sell or utilise limestone for any purpose, without any end-use restrictions.
The Ministry of Mines issued an order dated 13th October, 2025 under section 20A to ensure smooth transition of existing minor mineral mining leases to major mineral category, which contains the following provisions:
* Existing lease holders of minor mineral limestone leases have time till 31st March, 2026 to register with IBM and they may pay royalty at the existing rates specified by the respective State Governments up to 31st March, 2026.
* Continuation of existing mining plans approved by the respective State Governments for such leases till 31st March, 2027 and seeking approval of IBM for mining plan in the meanwhile.
* Exemption from filing digital aerial images of mining lease area till 1st July, 2027 and exemption from filing of online self-assessment report as per the star rating template till 1st July, 2027.
* Exemption from penalty for non-filing of monthly and annual returns under Rule 45 of the MCDR, 2017 to the Indian Bureau of Mines till 31st March, 2026, subject to the condition that the lessees shall continue to submit their returns to the State Governments as per the existing provisions.
The order dated 13th October, 2025 also provides enabling provision with respect to pending applications for grant of mineral concession in respect of Limestone as a minor mineral. In case where the State Government had issued letter of intent for grant of a mineral concession before 10th October, 2025 or where the auction process for grant of mineral concession has been concluded and preferred bidder has been selected before 10th October, 2025, the mining lease shall be granted and executed in accordance with the rules made by the State Government in respect of minor minerals within a period of two years from the date of issue of this order. The applications on which the State Government has not issued Letter of Intent (LOI) for grant of mineral concession before 10th October, 2025 shall lapse.
The removal of limestone from list of minor mineral has fulfilled a long-standing demand. It will increase income and employment in rural areas and enable quick expansion of cement manufacturing capacity.
Contact: Shuhaib T / Durgesh Kumar, Release ID: 2179064
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Mines: The primary entity responsible for the policy change regarding limestone classification.
MMDR Act: Referenced act under which section 20A is used to facilitate the transition of minor mineral leases to major mineral leases.
Limestone: The specific mineral being reclassified from minor to major mineral.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM): The organization with which lease holders need to register, and whose approval is required for mining plans.
NITI Aayog: The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mines & Minerals Sector, chaired by a Member of NITI Aayog, provided recommendations for the decision.
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Mines Classifies Limestone as Major
Mineral Completely
Posted On: 14 OCT 2025 6:53PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Mines issued notification, classifying Limestone as a major mineral completely. Earlier
limestone was classified as minor mineral as well as major mineral depending upon the end use. ‘Limestone
used in kilns for manufacture of lime used as building material’ had been notified as minor mineral.
Otherwise, it was a major mineral when used for any other purpose like production of cement, chemicals,
sugar, fertilizer, steel, etc.
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The Ministry of Mines vide gazette notification dated 10 October, 2025 has removed above distinction based
on the end use by deleting ‘Limestone used in kilns for manufacture of lime used as building material’ from
the category of minor minerals. Further, to ensure ease of doing business, the Ministry has issued an order
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dated 13 October, 2025 under section 20A of the MMDR Act to facilitate smooth regulatory transition of
existing minor mineral leases of limestone to major mineral lease.
Above decision was taken by the Ministry based on recommendations of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on
Mines & Minerals Sector constituted under the chairmanship of Member NITI Aayog which held discussions
with various stakeholders. Use of limestone in making lime has significantly reduced over the years and most
of limestone is now used in cement manufacturing and in chemical industries, smelters, fertilizer unit, sugar
factory etc.
The classification of all types of limestone as major mineral will promote ease of doing business as the lease
holders will be able to sell or utilise limestone for any purpose, without any end-use restrictions based on
artificial regulatory distinction of minor or major mineral. The existing minor mineral leases of limestone will
continue to operate as major mineral leases without any disruption.
For smooth transition of the existing minor mineral mining leases to major mineral category, the Ministry of
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Mines issued an order dated 13 October, 2025 under section 20A. Some of the provisions are as follows:
(i) The existing lease holders of minor mineral limestone leases are allowed time till 31st March, 2026 to
register with IBM and they may pay royalty at the existing rates specified by the respective State
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Governments up to 31 March, 2026.
(ii) Continuation of existing mining plans approved by the respective State Governments for such leases till
31st March, 2027 and seeking approval of IBM for mining plan in the meanwhile.
(iii) Exemption from filing digital aerial images of mining lease area till 1st July, 2027 and exemption from
filing of online self-assessment report as per the star rating template till 1st July, 2027.
(iv) Exemption from penalty for non-filing of monthly and annual returns under Rule 45 of the MCDR, 2017
st
to the Indian Bureau of Mines till 31 March, 2026, subject to the condition that the lessees shall continue to
submit their returns to the State Governments as per the existing provisions.
The order dated 13th October, 2025 also provides enabling provision with respect to pending applications for
grant of mineral concession in respect of Limestone as a minor mineral. In case where the State Government
had issued letter of intent for grant of a mineral concession before 10th October, 2025 or where the auction
process for grant of mineral concession has been concluded and preferred bidder has been selected before
10th October, 2025, the mining lease shall be granted and executed in accordance with the rules made by the
State Government in respect of minor minerals within a period of two years from the date of issue of this
order. The applications on which the State Government has not issued Letter of Intent (LOI) for grant ofth
mineral concession before 10 October, 2025 shall lapse.
This removal of limestone from list of minor mineral has fulfilled a long-standing demand of hundreds of
limestone minor mineral leaseholders to enable them to freely sell to cement industries as well as to the other
industries. This will increase income as well as employment in rural areas. Further, increase in availability of
limestone from minor mineral leases to cement industry will enable quick expansion of cement manufacturing
capacity in the country. This measure will give boost to construction activities in the country leading to
employment generation and economic growth.
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Shuhaib T / Durgesh Kumar
(Release ID: 2179064)