Mines & Minerals ( Development & Regulations) Amendment Bill,2021 With over 1500 operating Mines that produce almost 100 minerals, India is the second largest producer of coal and crude steel. The mining sector in India is regulated by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). The Act was aimed at affording a mineral concession regime in the background of the metal producing public sector undertakings. The MMDR Act provides for the process and conditions for acquiring a mining or prospecting license in India. The mining of minor minerals comes under the purview of State Governments.