Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's measures to expedite environmental clearances for critical mineral mining projects. It details amendments to existing regulations, including the addition of a "critical minerals" lane in the PARIVESH 2.0 portal on March 13, 2025, and amendments to the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act, 1957 effective from August 17, 2023. The policy aims to support self-sufficiency in critical minerals for key sectors and facilitate India's Net Zero commitment by 2070.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Critical Minerals Fast-Tracking:**
* A "critical minerals" lane was added to PARIVESH 2.0 following a request from the Ministry of Mines on February 20, 2025, to fast-track Environmental Clearance proposals.
* A sub-category for "mining of Critical minerals" was added to Parivesh to track proposals under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980.
* **Critical Mineral Definition and Listing:**
* The MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 (effective August 17, 2023) empowers the Central Government to auction mining leases for 24 listed critical minerals.
* These minerals are deemed critical due to limited domestic resources and concentrated global supply, essential for industrial advancement, technology, and the transition to a low-emission economy.
* 34 mineral blocks of critical and strategic minerals have been successfully auctioned.
* **Exemption for Linear Projects:**
* Linear projects extracting up to 20,000 m3 of earth are exempted from environmental clearance, following Notification No. S.O. 1223(E) issued on March 17, 2025, amending the EIA Notification, 2006.
* **Environmental Safeguards and Monitoring:**
* Forest protection is primarily the responsibility of State Governments and Union Territories, who take action against illegal possession of forest land according to existing laws.
* Violations of the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980, are addressed under sections 3A and 3B of the Adhiniyam.
* **EAC Timelines:**
* Timelines for disposal of Terms of Reference and Environmental Clearances are specified under EIA Notification, 2006.
Impact Analysis:
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the fast-track clearance process for critical mineral mining projects via PARIVESH portal modifications and inter-ministerial coordination.
* Action Required: Ensure PARIVESH portal functionality, monitor critical mineral mining proposals, and coordinate with the Ministry of Mines.
**Ministry of Mines:**
* Impact: Benefits from expedited environmental clearances for critical mineral mining projects, supporting self-sufficiency goals.
* Action Required: Continue collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and provide necessary information for listing and auctioning critical mineral blocks.
**State Governments and Union Territories:**
* Impact: Remain responsible for forest protection and addressing violations related to forest land, while accommodating potentially increased mining activities.
* Action Required: Enforce forest protection regulations, take action against illegal activities, and implement measures to mitigate the environmental impact of mining.
**Project Proponents (Mining Companies):**
* Impact: Benefit from faster environmental clearance processes for critical mineral mining projects.
* Action Required: Utilize the PARIVESH portal for applications, adhere to environmental safeguards, and comply with relevant regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
PARIVESH 2.0: A portal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for environmental clearances.
Forest Conservation Act, 1980: An Indian law concerning the conservation of forests.
Environmental Impact Assessment EIA, 2006: An Indian notification outlining the process for environmental impact assessments.
Ministry of Mines: The Indian government ministry responsible for the administration and regulation of mines and minerals.
Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act, 2023: An Indian law regulating the mining and development of minerals.
National Critical Mineral Mission: A mission approved by the Union Cabinet to intensify the exploration of critical minerals within India.
Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam 1980: Another name for Forest Conservation Act, 1980
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3982
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Fast-Track Clearances for Critical-Mineral Mining
3982. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the reasons for ''critical-minerals'' lane was added to PARIVESH 2.0 along with the
date of incorporation of this change;
(b) whether any steps mandated by the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 or Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA), 2006 are waived off, if so, the details thereof along with
legal basis;
(c) the criteria for listing the 25 minerals and the review schedule for this list;
(d) the reasons for linear projects extracting > 20,000 m³ of earth are exempted from
environmental clearance along with the safeguards in place for cumulative impact;
(e) the details of new scrutiny timelines set by Central and State Expert Appraisal
Committees (EACs); and
(f) the monitoring, public consultation and grievance mechanisms to protect forests,
wildlife and local rights once fast-track clearances are granted?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) Ministry of Mines through Office Memorandum (OM) dated 20.02.2025 requested
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to fast track Environmental Clearance
proposals of Critical and Strategic mineral mining projects. Vide aforesaid OM, Ministry of
Mines stated that recent amendment in Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act,
2023 have been done with an objective to ensure self-sufficiency in supply of Critical minerals
which are essential for advancement of many sectors including high-tech electronics, defence,
etc. It is also stated that National Critical Mineral Mission has been approved by the Union
Cabinet. The Mission encompasses all stages of the critical minerals value chain, including
mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.
The mission will intensify the exploration of critical minerals within the country and in its
offshore areas. It aims to create a fast track regulatory approval process for critical mineral
mining projects.
Accordingly, to facilitate the grant of Terms of Reference (ToR) and Environmental
Clearance (EC) to Critical and Strategic mineral mining proposals, this Ministry vide OM dated
13.03.2025 informed Ministry of Mines that a provision has already been made in the applicationform with inclusion of sub activity related to Critical and Strategic mineral on the Parivesh portal
of the Ministry.
Further, a sub category named mining of Critical minerals has also been added under
major category of Mining on Parivesh to ease the tracking and monitoring of these proposals
submitted under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980 for prior approval of
the Central Government.
(c) As per the information received from Ministry of Mines, the Central Government has
amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 [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 Lithium, Nickel, Tungsten, Titanium, Graphite,
etc. These 24 minerals have been specified as Critical and Strategic minerals primarily because
of lack of resources within India and supply risk because of concentration of production and
supply in limited geographies around the world. These minerals are vital for the development of
India's industrial and technological advancement and also to power the transition to a low-
emission economy, and the renewable technologies that will be required to meet the ‘Net Zero’
commitment of India by 2070. So far, the Central Government has successfully auctioned 34
mineral blocks of critical and strategic minerals in the country.
(d) Large linear projects such as construction of highways, railway lines, etc., require large
quantities of earth during their construction.
The Ministry, in consultation with the concerned Ministries and Experts, issued a detailed
SOP along with necessary environmental safeguards vide Notification No. S.O. 1223(E) dated
17.03.2025 for the extraction, sourcing, or borrowing of ordinary earth for linear projects by
amending the EIA Notification, 2006.
(e) Timelines for disposal of applications of Terms of Reference and for appraisal of
applications of Environmental Clearances have been specified under EIA Notification, 2006.
(f) The 'land' is a subject matter of the State Government. The forest areas and the legal
boundaries thereof are determined and maintained by the concerned State Government. The
primary responsibility of protection of forests from various threats including
encroachment/violation lies with the respective States and Union Territories (UTs). The
respective State Governments and Union Territories Administrations take action against the
illegal possession of forest land, as per the extant acts, rules and regulations made there under.
The State Governments and Administrations, besides taking legal actions against
encroachment/violation as per the extant acts, rules and regulations, also take various other
measures such as demarcation and digitization of forest boundaries, strengthening infrastructure
for forest protection, involving fringe area forest communities such as Joint Forest Management
Committees, Eco Development Committees etc. to prevent and control encroachments.
Moreover, any violations of the provisions of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam,
1980 are dealt as per section 3A and 3B of the Adhiniyam.
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