Inclusion of other minerals in a mining lease:  Under the Act, a mining lease is granted for a specific mineral.  The Bill provides that lease holders may apply to the state government for adding other minerals to an existing lease.  For inclusion of critical and strategic minerals, and other specified minerals, no additional amount need to be paid.  These include minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, gold, and silver.  For inclusion of other minerals, the lease holder must pay an amount equivalent to the royalty for that mineral.  In case of auctioned mines, the lease holder must additionally pay the auction premium for the included mineral.  The central government may change payment requirements through a notification.

For addition of a minor mineral to a mining lease issued for a mineral other than a minor mineral (major minerals), the state government may decide the royalty and other payments.  Minor minerals include building stones, gravel, sand, and other minerals declared as minor minerals by the central government.  For inclusion of major minerals to minor mineral leases, the central government will prescribe conditions through Rules.  An atomic mineral above a specified grade cannot be included in a mining lease granted for non-atomic minerals.

Expanded scope of National Mineral Exploration Trust:  The Act establishes the National Mineral Exploration Trust to fund mineral exploration in the country.  The Bill widens the scope of the Trust to also fund development of mines and minerals.  Further, it allows the usage of funds in the Trust for exploration and development in offshore areas and outside India.  The Bill also renames the Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust.  Under the Act, all lessees are required to pay two percent of royalty into the Trust.  The Bill increases the rate of contribution to three percent of the royalty.

Removal of limit on sale for captive mines: Under the Act, captive mines are allowed to sell up to 50% of minerals produced in a year, after meeting end-use requirements.  The Bill removes the limit on sale of minerals.  The Bill also empowers state governments to allow sale of mineral dumps stacked in the leased area up to a date specified by the central government.

Inclusion of contiguous area in mining lease for deep-seated minerals:  The Bill allows for a one-time extension of the area under a mining or composite lease.  This will be applicable for deep-seated minerals.  Deep-seated minerals are minerals which occur at a depth of more than 200 metres from the surface of land.  Mining area may be extended by up to 30% of the existing leased area under a composite licence, and by up to 10% of the existing leased area under a mining lease.  A composite licence provides rights for both prospecting and mining.

Mineral exchanges:  The Bill provides for establishing an authority to register and regulate mineral exchanges.  The Bill defines mineral exchange as a registered electronic trading platform or marketplace for trading minerals and metals.  The central government will frame Rules regarding mineral exchanges on matters including: (i) manner of registration, (ii) levy of fees and other charges, (iii) prevention of insider trading and market manipulation, and (iv) grievance redressal.