Mineral Resources — Policy Changes

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
Act 16 of 2023	2023	The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 introduced the exploration-licence framework through section 10BA for minerals in the Seventh Schedule, and inserted section 11D for Central Government auctions of mining leases and composite licences for minerals in Part D of the First Schedule. The Act also changed the relevant mineral schedules.	Creates a distinct exploration concession and reallocates the auction-selection function for specified critical and strategic minerals. Under the inserted section 11D, the State Government grants the concession after the Central auction, and the specified statutory payments accrue to the State Government or concerned authorities. An exploration licence is not itself evidence of a producing mine.