Parliament Passes MMDR Amendment Bill 2026

# Parliament Passes MMDR Amendment Bill 2026 ### Why in News? Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) **Amendment Bill**, **2026**, to change rules governing mineral sales and strengthen exploration of critical minerals. ### What changes does the Bill make? - It removes the **50%** ceiling on sale of minerals produced from captive mines, giving leaseholders greater flexibility to sell output. - It allows certain critical minerals, such as lithium, to be added to existing leases under the amended framework. - The Bill also provides for regulation of electronic mineral-trading exchanges and expands the role of the **National Mineral Exploration Trust**. ### Exam Connect - **MMDR** Act → Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, **1957** - **Critical minerals** → strategically important minerals with supply risks - **National Mineral Exploration Trust** → supports mineral exploration