Centre Speeds Critical Mineral Approvals, Keeps Green Law Intact

• Environment Ministry adds category to Parivesh 2.0 portal to speed up critical mineral mining approvals.
• No exemptions from Forest Conservation Act or EIA 34 mineral blocks auctioned for self-reliance.
• National Critical Mineral Mission aims to secure mineral supplies, streamline regulations.

The Environment Ministry has launched a new category on the Parivesh 2.0 site to speed up approvals for mining projects involving critical minerals that will boost domestic availability of these important resources needed for clean energy and for advanced technologies, according to an August 18, 2025 statement in parliament.

Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said in the Lok Sabha, in response to a question, that clearances were expedited based on a February request by the Mines Ministry to update the portal on March 13. This is consistent with the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, amendments made earlier in 2023, which empower the Centre to auction 24 critical and strategic minerals including lithium, nickel, tungsten, titanium and graphite, which are key for defence, electronics and renewable energy sectors, sectors in which India is already heavily import reliant.

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To date, 34 have been successfully auctioned across India providing funding to India’s self-reliance ambitions for India 2070 net-zero. Singh assured these projects will go through the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 processes, and the new portal category simply provide a more systematic view of proposals that need central approval regarding forest laws.

Singh confirmed that guidelines dated March 17, 2025 also allow linear projects including highways and railways to use over 20,000 cubic meters of ordinary earth from a floodplain, without environmental clearance as amended EIA rules. The EIA notification's timeframe for processing applications has not changed at this time as the state government will safeguard forests and wildlife with the assistance of a  Joint Forest Management Committee and eco-development group members.

Penalties for violations of forest laws are imposed under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. In January, 2025, the Cabinet of the Union Government approved the National Critical Mineral Mission, to facilitate exploration, mining, processing, and recovery of critical minerals, thereby decreasing reliance on just a handful of countries, and simplifying regulatory processes.