{
  "id": 869205,
  "title": "Mounting criticism in Kerala over Centre’s Mines and Minerals Amendment Act",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/mounting-criticism-in-kerala-over-centres-mines-and-minerals",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T12:23:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mounting-criticism-in-kerala-over-centres-mines-and-minerals-amendment-act/article71345248.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Protests are escalating in Kerala against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was recently passed by Parliament. The ruling party and the Opposition in the state assert that the Act disregards the federal principles enshrined in the Constitution. The Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, has denounced the MMDR Amendment Act as an assault on the federal structure and urged the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala to challenge its provisions in the Supreme Court.\n\nChief Minister V.D. Satheesan stated that the State government would mount a strong political and legal opposition to the Act. He highlighted that the legislation infringes upon the State's constitutional powers over land and poses a significant threat to India's federal structure. The MMDR amendment Act restricts the State's authority to levy taxes, cesses, and other charges on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, which are classified under Entry 18 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule. Additionally, the Act gives the Union government control over the regulation and development of mines and mineral-bearing lands, subject to the Centre's regulations.\n\nThe Centre argues that the amendment aims to promote mineral production, ensure mineral security, and establish a uniform regulatory framework. However, Vijayan contends that the broader objective is to weaken the public sector and create opportunities for corporations to profit from windfall gains. He also alleges that the UDF government's proposals to privatize beach sand mining and the Kerala Metals and Minerals Ltd.'s curtailment of sand mining activities are part of a larger privatisation agenda.\n\nKerala's fish workers' organization, Kerala Matsyathozhilali Aikyavedi, has also voiced its concerns, urging the State government to clarify its position on the MMDR amendment Act in light of the recent changes to mining laws. The organization asserts that the Centre is amending existing mining laws to enable private sector monopolies and that the State government has remained silent about the announcement of a dedicated mineral corridor spanning multiple states.",
  "summary": "Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan terms the MMDR amendment Act an assault on the federal structure envisaged by the Constitution; he alleges that the legislation formed part of a broader policy to open India’s precious mineral wealth to private monopolies",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}