Panel Urges Faster Mine Start-Ups After Auctions

23 Dec 2025 CW Team

A Parliamentary panel has flagged persistent delays between mine auctions and the start of operations, urging the government to consider setting up an inter-ministerial committee to monitor post-auction progress for mineral and critical mineral projects.

In its latest report, Self-Reliance in Minerals and Metals, the Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel said that despite policy initiatives and simplified exploration norms, projects continue to face hurdles due to lengthy regulatory clearances, inadequate exploration, forest clearances even at the exploration stage, and significant time lags between auctions and operationalisation.

The committee recommended prioritising critical mineral projects for statutory approvals and proposed an inter-ministerial group to oversee post-auction milestones with a mandate to fast-track mine development. It also suggested considering penalties for delayed operationalisation and incentives for faster production to improve compliance and efficiency.

Acknowledging reforms undertaken between 2015 and 2023, the panel noted substantial changes to modernise India’s mineral sector regulatory framework. Key amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act included introducing auctions for granting mineral concessions, setting a uniform lease period of 50 years in place of renewals, notifying private exploration agencies, and amending the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act to allocate operating rights through auctions.

Since 2015, a total of 486 mineral blocks have been auctioned, including 462 by state governments and 24 by the Centre. The committee said closing the gap between allocation and production is critical to securing mineral supplies and advancing self-reliance goals.

Real Estate

20 Feb 2026

Supreme Court Clears NBCC to Complete 16 Stalled Supertech Projects

In a significant relief to thousands of homebuyers, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) directing NBCC to complete 16 stalled residential projects of debt-ridden Supertech Ltd.The apex court, in its final order delivered on February 5, 2026, restrained all courts and tribunals from passing any directions that could stall or obstruct the execution of the NBCC-led completion plan. The decision impacts nearly 51,000 homebuyers who have been awaiting possession of their flats for over a decade.Years of delaySupertech launched and p..

Telecom Underpins India's AI Revolution, MoS Says

At the India AI Impact Summit, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development said that telecom infrastructure constitutes the foundational layer of the country's artificial intelligence ecosystem and described connectivity as a form of sovereignty. He argued that inclusive digital connectivity is central to India's technological leadership and the empowerment of citizens. The address framed telecom as essential not merely for communication but for enabling AI-driven opportunities across sectors. He noted that broadband subscribers rose from 60 million (60 mn) in 2014 to one bi..

India and Ireland Deepen Digital and Telecom Cooperation

India and Ireland held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi in which the Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, led the Indian delegation and Jack Chambers led the Irish delegation. The meeting at Sanchar Bhawan sought to deepen cooperation in telecommunications, digital infrastructure, emerging technologies and regulatory collaboration. Senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications and Ireland's Commission for Communications Regulation attended to chart a roadmap for future networks. Both sides noted complementarities between India's scale and rapid deployment capab..