Even though opposition MPs protested the Election Commission’s changes to Bihar’s electoral registers, the Lok Sabha enacted the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025. A voice vote supported the Bill.
The new law aims to give the National Mineral Exploration Trust more power and reach. The trust’s money can now be used to explore and develop mining and minerals not only in India, including its offshore areas, but also outside of India.
The Bill also changes the name of the trust to the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust to show that it now covers more ground. The Bill also raises the amount that lessees pay to the trust from 2% of the royalty to 3%.