Biz Masala

  BIZ MASALA   |   MINING & INDUSTRY Illustrative AI-generated landscape; not a photograph of a specific mine or site. A substantial geological resource meets a durable policy and consent barrier, while the downstream industry has had to look beyond local hills for ore By Biz Masala Desk   |   October 20, 2026 Andhra Pradesh has a large bauxite resource base, concentrated in the Eastern Ghats. Yet the ore has not translated into regular commercial mining in the state’s Agency areas. The difference between geological potential and mineable reserves is central to the story: official regional planning material cites roughly 610–620 million tonnes of bauxite resources for Andhra Pradesh, but also says no reserves had been slated for production. The state’s 2019 cancellation of mining leases and a long-running dispute over tribal rights, forests and consent have kept proposed mine development from proceeding. That leaves a complex industrial picture...

  BIZ MASALA   |   BUSINESS • POLICY • PEOPLE • IMPACT The Centre plans a new mining law after tightening the rules governing state levies. The contest is about investment, taxation, federal powers—and who benefits from India’s natural resources. By Murthy ASR   |   Biz Masala   |   19 October 2026 The proposed overhaul could reshape the rules governing mineral extraction, public revenue and investment. A major change on the horizon The Union Government is preparing to replace the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, with a comprehensive new mining law, according to reports published on 18 October citing government sources. An inter-ministerial committee is expected to review the existing framework, consider international practices and consult states and other stakeholders before a draft bill is prepared. The government’s stated objective is to modernise the regime and make doing business easier. The proposal is at a...