Indian laws regulating mining were enacted in the 1950s. They are long overdue for an overhaul and the government has been promising to introduce a new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill for some sessions now. But inter-ministerial wrangling, not to mention differences between the Centre and states, have kept pushing back this event.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/mine-it-right
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/financial-express-new-delhi
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/mining
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/minerals
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/mining-regulations