Hemant Soren Urges President to Reconsider Mining Amendment Bill, Flags Jharkhand’s Revenue and Federal Rights

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is quite unhappy – He has urged President Droupadi Murmu to give serious consideration to the constitutional, federal, financial and social implications of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. In a detailed letter, Soren recalled his close association with Jharkhand’s people, particularly tribal and mining-affected communities, and said the proposed amendments raise important questions relating to the rights of mineral-producing States and their ability to use mineral resources for local development. He noted that the Bill has already been passed by both Houses of Parliament, despite Jharkhand having earlier placed its concerns before the Prime Minister and sought reconsideration.

Soren particularly objected to the proposed provisions concerning the levy of tax, cess or other charges on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land, arguing that they could restrict the State’s legislative powers and have implications for the federal structure. Referring to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Mineral Area Development Authority v. Steel Authority of India Ltd., he highlighted the recognised power of States to levy taxes on mineral-bearing land. The Chief Minister also pointed to Jharkhand’s substantial dependence on mineral-related revenue, noting that the State received ₹1,379 crore through the Jharkhand Mineral Bearing Land Cess in 2024-25, ₹7,488 crore in 2025-26, and has estimated ₹13,215 crore for 2026-27. He warned that any restriction or withdrawal of the State’s power to levy such charges could affect development programmes, social security initiatives and the interests of mining-affected communities and appealed to the President to consider all available constitutional options.

The letter written by the Chief Minister is given below in original for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu.com –

Editor’s Note

Dear Valued Readers,

Since our inception, we have consciously stayed away from political coverage and remained focused on news and developments concerning Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

However, we have decided to carry this political statement because the issue has a direct and potentially significant bearing on the PSU sector. The proposed Bill could have far-reaching implications for Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries, as well as Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)—among the country’s largest and most important coal and steel PSUs. We believe that our readers should be aware of developments that may have a substantial impact on these institutions and, consequently, on the broader public sector landscape.

Our decision to publish this statement is therefore guided not by political considerations, but by its potential implications for India’s PSU ecosystem, mineral resources, revenue framework and the functioning of major public sector enterprises.