MMDR Amendment Act, 2026

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 amends the MMDR Act, 1957 to establish a uniform and balanced fiscal framework for the mining sector. The Act introduces Section 9D, restricting State Governments from levying fresh taxes, cesses, or charges on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands unless prescribed by the Central Government. It declares any unpaid or uncollected past levies invalid while protecting amounts already deposited. Furthermore, the Act empowers the Central Government under Section 13 to frame rules governing such levies, aiming to eliminate fragmented State taxation, remove cumulative burdens on strategic and critical minerals, and foster long-term investment, energy security, and national market uniformity without disturbing the revenue share of States.