Parliament Question: Laterite as Minor Mineral
Issued by Ministry of Mines
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4042
ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026
LATERITE AS MINOR MINERAL
4042. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Government has recently classified Laterite with more
than 20 per cent aluminium as bauxite and a major mineral thereby comes under the
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR), Act and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether it is true that before the issuance of above classification Laterite is a Minor
mineral and if so, the reasons for changing the classification;
(c) whether Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has written a letter in this regard and if
so, the details and action taken thereon; and
(d) whether, when mica, quartz, feldspar and barites minerals reclassified as major
mineral a transition period was given and if so, why in the case of Laterite this has not
been followed?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES
(SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)
(a) & (b): The threshold values for various minerals was notified by the Indian Bureau
of Mines (IBM) on 25.04.2018, in accordance with Rule 12(6) of the Mineral
Conservation and Development Rules, 2017. As per the IBM notification dated
25.04.2018, the threshold values for Bauxite are: (i) Aluminous Laterite: Al O - 20%
2 3
(min), and (ii) Bauxite: Al O - 30% (min) and SiO2 (Total) - 7.0% (max).
2 3
The Central Government has not changed the classification of Laterite in recent times.
(c): Yes, The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh wrote a letter on 26.05.2026 in this
regard. The Central Government, after duly examining the matter, has sent a reply to
the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 03.07.2026 informing that Ministry of Mines
has not set out any new policy with respect to mineral Laterite.
(d): Since there has been no change in the classification of mineral Laterite, unlike
Mica, Quartz, Feldspar and Barytes, the question of giving transition period does not
arise.
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