Updated on 16 Jun 2026
Get detailed information on the various amendments introduced by the Ministry of Coal to the existing Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 for coal & lignite and prospecting license.
The Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2020 was issued by the Ministry of Coal on May 29, 2020, modifying the principal Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 in pursuance of Section 13 of the MMDR Act, 1957. This rule modernizes the regulatory regime for coal and lignite concession in India, providing greater accountability and operational efficiency. Some of the important amendments include the insertion of Chapter III A requiring all prospecting operations and Geological Reports to be prepared as per Indian Standard Procedure for Coal Resource Estimation or any other procedure approved by the Central Government. Further, any agency or organization carrying out geological exploration and preparation of mining plan must possess valid structural accreditation from the Quality Council of India (QCI) through the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET). For expediting the process of resource development, the rules mandate the preparation and submission of mining plans within six months of compiling the geological report. The notification also modifies procedures for allocation and management of Prospecting License-cum-Mining Lease (under Chapter IV A) to make legal mineral holding simpler on government lands. Violation of these rules will attract strict regulatory action and legal consequences under Section 21(2) of the MMDR Act, 1957.