Now Reading: Jharkhand CM Says Mining Bill Will Cost State Rs 11,000 Crore
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Jharkhand CM Says Mining Bill Will Cost State Rs 11,000 Crore
Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote, prompting strong opposition from mineral-rich states. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the state could lose Rs…
The Story in Brief
Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote, prompting strong opposition from mineral-rich states. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the state could lose Rs 11,000 crore annually, while NDTV puts the risk at Rs 7,110 crore. Soren wrote to the President and Prime Minister urging reconsideration and warned of protests. The bill overrides a 2024 Supreme Court judgment that upheld states' power to tax mineral rights, subject to parliamentary limits. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy defended the measure, arguing uniform rates would provide certainty for investors. Tamil Nadu and Odisha have also opposed the bill, citing loss of fiscal autonomy.
The Indian Opinion
The central government claims the bill brings uniform taxation to attract investment, but the 2024 Supreme Court ruling explicitly protected states' fiscal powers. Opposing states, however, focus only on revenue loss, ignoring that excessive local levies can make mining unviable. Both sides overstate: this is a genuine tension between federal rights and investor certainty. The real test will be whether states mount a constitutional challenge and how the court interprets Parliament's new limitations.
Sources (3): ndtvprofit.com, ndtvprofit.com (2), nationalheraldindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
