The National Mineral Policy 2019 is the Government of India’s overarching framework to regulate and develop the country’s mining sector. Its primary goal is to ensure sustainable, transparent, and scientific mining while reducing import dependency and attracting private investment to boost economic growth.
Core Objectives
- Sustainable Mining: Integrates environmental and social safeguards to minimize ecological impacts while addressing the concerns of mining-affected and tribal populations.
- Ease of Doing Business: Grants mining the status of an “industry” to improve private sector financing and introduces transparent, time-bound procedures for obtaining clearances.
- Private Sector Encouragement: Focuses on auctioning unexplored areas with a unique composite licence (revenue-sharing model) to promote exploration.
- Infrastructure Growth: Promotes the development of dedicated mineral corridors and utilizes coastal waterways/inland shipping to reduce transportation costs and pollution.
Key Features
- Intergenerational Equity: Focuses on optimizing mineral extraction to meet both present and future domestic industry needs.
- E-Governance: Employs IT-enabled systems and online portals to track the application and clearance processes, reducing bureaucratic delays.
- Global Benchmarking: Aims to harmonize taxes, levies, and royalties with global standards to make Indian minerals competitive