The Ministry of Mines has prepared the draft Mineral Conservation and Development Amendment Rules, 2018 seeking to amend the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017. As part of the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy, the draft Amendment Rules is made available.

Tamil Nadu, which has long been delaying setting up the District Mineral Foundation, has finally notified the institution and has framed the rules to govern the body. The DMF would ensure that a part of the royalty received by the Central and State governments is earmarked for developing areas affected by mining activities.

The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 1957 was amended in 2015. Subsequent to the amendment, the Ministry of Mines notified the Mineral Auction Rules, 2015 on 20/05/2015 to prescribe the procedure of the auction process.

The Ministry of Coal has notified Coal Blocks Allocation Rules, 2017. The coal ministry has deferred indefinitely the fifth round of captive coal block auctions citing lack of demand from steel makers, despite a request from the steel ministry to continue the bidding for interested firms.