(1)

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for regulating the grant of [mineral concessions] in respect of minerals and for purposes connected therewith.

(2)

In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-

(a) the person by whom, and the manner in which, applications for [mineral concessions, prospecting licenses or mining leases] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting licenses or mining leases " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).] in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government may be made and the fees to be paid therefor;

(aa) the conditions as may be necessary for commencement and continuation of production by the holders of mining leases, under section 4B;

(ab) the conditions to be fulfilled by the new lessee for obtaining all necessary rights, approvals, clearances, licences and the like under the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 8B;

(ac) the level of exploration in respect of deep seated minerals or such minerals and the procedure, including the bidding parameters for selection of the holders under the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 10C; [Omitted]

(b) the time within which, and the form in which, acknowledgment of the receipt of any such application may be sent;

(c) the matters which may be considered where applications in respect of the same land are received on the same day;

(d) [ the terms and conditions of auction by competitive bidding for selection of the company under section 11A;] [Inserted by Mines And Minerals (Development And Regulation) Amendment Act, 2010 (No. 34 Of 2010) ].

(e) the authority by which [mineral concessions, prospecting licenses or mining leases] [Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting licenses or mining leases " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999). ] in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government may be granted;

(f) the procedure for obtaining a [mineral concession, a prospecting licenses or a mining lease] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting licenses or mining leases " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).] in respect of any land in which the minerals vest in a person other than the Government and the terms on which, and the conditions subject to which, such [a permit, license or lease] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " a prospecting license or a mining lease " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).] may be granted or renewed;

(g) the terms on which, and the conditions subject to which, any other [mineral concession, prospecting license or mining lease] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting license or mining lease " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).] may be granted or renewed;

(h) the facilities to be afforded by holders of mining leases to persons deputed by the Government for the purpose of undertaking research or training in matters relating to mining operations;

(i) [ the fixing and collection of fees for ] [Substituted by Act 37 of 1986, Section 11, for Clause (i) (w.e.f. 10.2.1987). ] [mineral concessions, prospecting licenses or mining leases] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting licenses or mining leases " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).][ surface rent, security deposit, fines, other fees or charges and the time within which and the manner in which the dead rent or royalty shall be payable;] [Substituted by Act 37 of 1986, Section 11, for Clause (i) (w.e.f. 10.2.1987). ]

(j) the manner in which rights of third parties may be protected (whether by payment of compensation or otherwise) in cases where any such party may be prejudicially affected by reason of any [reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting or mining operations " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).];

(k) the grouping of associated minerals for the purposes of section 6;

(l) the manner in which, and the conditions subject to which, [a reconnaissance, permit, a prospecting license or a mining lease] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " a prospecting license or a mining lease " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).] may be transferred;

(m) the construction, maintenance and use of roads, power transmission lines, tramways, railways, aerial ropeways, pipelines and the making of passages for water for mining purposes on any land comprised in a mining lease;

(n) the form of registers to be maintained under this Act;

(p) the reports and statements to be submitted by holders of [mineral concessions or prospecting licenses] [ Substituted by Act 38 of 1999, Section 14, for " prospecting licenses " (w.e.f. 18.12.1999).] or owners of mines and the authority to which such reports and statements shall be submitted;

(q) the period within which applications for revision of any order passed by a State Government or other authority in exercise of any power conferred by or under this Act, may be made [the fees to be paid therefor and the documents which shall accompany such applications] [ Inserted by Act 37 of 1986, Section 11 (w.e.f. 10.2.1987).] and the manner in which such applications shall be disposed of; [*] [By Act 37 of 1986, Section 11, after clause (q), clause (qq) has been inserted w.e.f. 10.2.1987 but the word " and " at the end of clause (q) has not been omitted nor the word " and " has been added/inserted at the end of clause (qq), which ought to have been done by the said Act. To put the matter in right prospective corrections have been made accordingly-(Ed).]

(r) the period of mining lease under sub-section (4) of section 8;

(s) the manner of sale of mineral by the holder of a mining lease under sub-section (5) of section 8;

(t) the manner of sale of mineral under sub-section (7A) of section 8A;

(u) the manner for reimbursement of expenditure towards reconnaissance permits or prospecting operations under the second proviso to clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 10A;

(v) the manner of granting mining lease to the preferred bidder under the second proviso to sub-section (4) of section 10B;

(w) the manner of granting composite licence to the preferred bidder under the second proviso to sub-section ( 5) of section 11;

(x) the manner of granting mining lease by the State Government to the holder of the composite licence under sub-section (10) of section 11;

(y) any other matter which is to be, or may be prescribed, under this Act.”.