Key Points of Amendments to Forest Rules 2023 for Critical Mineral Mining

Key Points of Amendments to Forest Rules 2023 for Critical Mineral Mining


  • Objective: To facilitate faster approvals for mining of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements in forest areas.

  • Streamlined Process: Reduces procedural delays by integrating clearances under Forest Conservation rules with mining approvals.

  • Single-Window Mechanism: Ensures mining projects requiring forest land diversion can get approvals more efficiently through coordinated decision-making.

  • Prioritization of Minerals: Recognizes critical minerals as strategic resources for India’s clean energy transition and national security.

  • Ease of Doing Business: Aims to attract private sector investment by providing regulatory clarity and reducing uncertainty in project timelines.

  • Environmental Safeguards: Retains the requirement for compensatory afforestation and environmental management plans.

  • Public Participation: Provisions for consultation with local communities and gram sabhas before granting mining approvals remain.

  • Alignment with National Goals: Supports India’s targets for renewable energy, EV adoption, and reducing import dependence on critical minerals.

  • Checks and Balances: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) retains oversight to ensure compliance with biodiversity and conservation norms.

  • Impact: Expected to boost domestic supply of strategic minerals, reduce import bills, and strengthen India’s role in global supply chains.

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