Parliament Question: Guideline for Inclusion of Minerals in 'Major Mineral' Category

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 674 ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025 GUIDELINE FOR INCLUSION OF MINERALS IN 'MAJOR MINERAL' CATEGORY

674. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the criteria for classifying a mineral as a "major mineral" under Indian mining laws;

(b) whether there are any guidelines/clarifications on the grant of mining leases for mica, quartz, feldspar and barytes under the major mineral category and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the addition of minerals to the major category affects environmental clearance procedures and compliance norms and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government will ensure the interests of local communities and small- scale miners are protected after reclassification, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of regulatory mechanisms proposed to manage newly added major minerals effectively? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): As per Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957), “minor minerals” means building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes and any other mineral which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a minor mineral. All other minerals are considered as major minerals.

(b): The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act, has classified the minerals Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as major minerals vide Notification No. S.O. 924 (E) dated 20th February, 2025.

(c): The norms for grant of environmental clearance are governed as per the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, issued under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.(d): The Central Government, vide Order dated 1st May, 2025 issued under Section 20A of the MMDR Act, has made certain transitory provisions to facilitate smooth transition of existing mining leases granted in respect of these minerals from minor minerals to major minerals.

(e): Pursuant to reclassification of minerals Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as major minerals, the existing leases of these minerals are now regulated in accordance with the provisions of the MMDR Act and the Rules framed thereunder in respect of major minerals.

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