| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Minor Minerals | Minerals other than major minerals, such as building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, etc. |
| State List (Entry 54) | Grants power to State Governments to regulate mining and extraction of minor minerals. |
| MMDR Act, 1957 | Governs the development and regulation of mines and minerals; Central Government can notify minerals as major or minor. |
| Notification of Minor Minerals | Central Government issues notifications defining what minerals are minor or major. |
| Grant of Concessions | States regulate and grant mining leases, licenses, and concessions for minor minerals. |
| Concept / Term | Explanation / Relevance |
|---|
| Minor Minerals | Minerals other than major minerals; typically include building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, etc. |
| Major Minerals | Minerals notified by the Central Government; subject to central regulation. |
| Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) | Central legislation regulating mining activities and allowing the Central Government to notify minerals as major or minor. |
| State List (Entry 54) | Part of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India; grants States authority over minor minerals. |
| Central Government’s Notification Power | The Central Government can declare which minerals are to be treated as major or minor by notification under the MMDR Act. |
| State Government’s Regulatory Power | States have the power to regulate, grant concessions, and make rules for mining and extraction of minor minerals within their territories. |
| Concessions and Leases | Licenses or permits granted by State Governments for extraction of minor minerals. |
| Division of Powers (Union vs State) | Constitutionally defined allocation of subjects, with minor minerals under State jurisdiction and major minerals under Union jurisdiction. |
| Environmental Clearance | Often required for mining activities, with varying procedures for minor and major minerals. |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Enactment Year | 1957 |
| Purpose | To regulate the development and mining of minerals in India; to ensure systematic mining and conservation. |
| Scope | Applies to all minerals except petroleum and natural gas, atomic minerals, and minor minerals (to some extent). |
| Major vs Minor Minerals | Central Government notifies which minerals are “major” and which are “minor”; major minerals under central control, minor under state control. |
| Regulatory Authority | Ministry of Mines (Central Government) for major minerals; State Governments for minor minerals. |
| Grant of Mining Leases | Authorizes the grant, renewal, and termination of mining leases and prospecting licenses. |
| Auctioning of Mineral Blocks | Introduced as a transparent method for allocation of mineral concessions. |
| Conservation and Sustainable Mining | Provisions for scientific mining methods and environmental safeguards. |
| Penalties and Offences | Prescribes penalties for illegal mining, violations of lease terms, and other offenses under the Act. |
| Amendments | Several amendments, notably the 2015 amendment introducing auctioning and reforms in mineral allocation. |
| Environmental Clearance | Mining operations require prior environmental clearances under separate environmental laws. |
| Revenue and Royalties | Mining leases subject to payment of royalties and taxes to the government. |
| Conflict Resolution | Provisions for dispute resolution between lessees, governments, and other parties. |
| Major Minerals | Description / Use |
|---|
| Coal | Fuel for power generation and industry |
| Iron Ore | Raw material for steel production |
| Manganese Ore | Steel manufacturing and battery production |
| Bauxite | Source of aluminum |
| Copper Ore | Electrical wiring, electronics, and industrial uses |
| Lead and Zinc | Batteries, alloys, and galvanization |
| Gold | Jewelry, electronics, and finance |
| Silver | Jewelry, electronics, and currency |
| Chromite | Stainless steel production |
| Limestone | Cement manufacturing and construction |
| Dolomite | Steel industry and refractory materials |
| Nickel | Stainless steel and battery production |
| Tin Ore | Electronics and alloys |
| Uranium | Nuclear fuel |
| Rare Earth Elements | Electronics, defense, and renewable energy |
| Diamond | Gemstones and industrial cutting tools |
| Others (as notified) | Various minerals critical for industry and defense |
| Minor Minerals | Description / Use |
|---|
| Building stones | Construction and infrastructure |
| Gravel | Construction aggregate |
| Ordinary clay | Pottery, bricks, and ceramics |
| Ordinary sand | Construction and land reclamation |
| Marble | Decoration, monuments, and construction |
| Granite | Construction and monuments |
| Sandstone | Building material |
| Limestone (minor deposits) | Construction and agricultural lime |
| Earth (ordinary soil) | Various non-industrial uses |
| Peat | Fuel and soil amendment |
| Quartz | Glass making and electronics |
| Slate | Roofing and blackboards |
| Laterite | Building material |
| Kankar (calcareous nodules) | Soil conditioner and cement manufacture |
| Murrum | Road construction |
| Others (as notified) | Minor minerals used mainly for local and small-scale purposes |