The Ministry of Coal on August 6, 2021 has issued Draft Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021 to further amend the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. The draft introduced the following amendment in the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 are as follows: In Rule 2(1) (viia) which specifies “run-of-mine” means the raw, unprocessed or uncrushed material in its natural state obtained after blasting or digging, from the mineralized zone of a lease area”, has been inserted. The Rule 24C which specifies “Period of mining lease granted to Government companies or corporations”, has been inserted, namely: All mining leases granted on or after commencement of the Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021 to a Government company or corporation for coal or lignite shall be for a period of fifty years. All subsisting mining leases granted to a Government company or corporation before commencement the Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021 for coal or lignite shall be deemed to have been granted for fifty years or till 31st March 2030. If an application for extension of mining lease made within the time referred to in sub-rule (3) is not disposed by the State Government before the date of expiry of the lease, the period of that lease shall be deemed to have been extended till the State Government passes an order of extension.