As per Office Memorandum dated 8 September 2025, The Ministry of Environment , Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will now exempt mining projects related to critical and strategic minerals from public consultations for grant of environmental clearances.[1]
The exemption has come following a request from the Ministry of Defence which has requested the mining projects related to critical and strategic minerals to be considered as projects concerning National Defence. The exemption comes after a similar request was also made by the Department of Atomic Energy requested to grant exemption from Public Consultation under sub-clause (f) of Clause 7 (III) (i) of the EIA notification dated 14 September 2006 (i.e. all projects or activities concerning national defence and security or involving other strategic considerations as determined by the Central government are exempted from public consultation.) to facilitate early operationalization of mining projects in respect of Atomic Minerals listed under Part B, First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Therefore, in light of the national defence and strategic considerations, all mining projects of atomic minerals notified in part B and critical and strategic minerals notified in part D of the First schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, shall be exempted from public consultations and will be appraised at the central level irrespective of the lease area involved in the proposal.
Despite the exemption, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) reports for these mining projects must still include detailed consideration of the Impacts on local communities, Creation of social infrastructure (health, water, etc.), Skill development and employment opportunities and Public grievance redressal mechanisms. Project proponents must allocate sufficient financial and other resources for implementing these environmental management measures and include them in the EMP.
[1] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Impact Assessment Division, Government of India, F.No. IA-Z-11013/136/2025-IA-I dated 08 September 2025. https://parivesh.nic.in/publicdocument/UPLOAD_OM_NOTIFICATION/IA_DOCS/1002_08092025062213.pdf