Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020 (No. 2 of 2020).

This Act amends several provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Amendments establish administrative and legal proceedings, in particular they specify that notwithstanding anything contained in section 4A, the Central Government may, in the interest of maintaining sustained production of minerals in the country, prescribe necessary conditions for the commencement and continuation of production by the holders of mining leases who have acquired rights, approvals, clearances and the like under section 8B. This Act adds a new type of composite license known as prospecting license cum mining lease. The provided license will be considered valid for both mining and prospecting activities.
Amendments also deal with the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 in the following way: coal prospecting or mining operations, for own consumption, sale or for any other purpose as may be determined by the Central Government, and the State Government shall be under permit, prospecting licence, mining lease or prospecting licence-cum-mining lease in respect of Schedule I coal mine to such company as selected through auction by competitive bidding under this section, etc. The compensation for land and mine infrastructure in relation to a Schedule I coal mine shall be deposited by the successful bidder or allottee with the nominated authority and shall be disbursed maintaining, priority of payments.