Jharkhand News : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has criticised the Centre after the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He has opposed the legislation and warned that Jharkhand will launch a major protest if the Centre does not withdraw it.
Hemant Soren said that if the minerals belong to Jharkhand and the land also belongs to Jharkhand, then why should decisions regarding the state’s rights and interests be taken in Delhi? He warned that Jharkhand would launch such a major movement that the entire country would watch it.
On August 12, amid disruptions in Parliament, the Centre got the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed. Under the Bill, states will no longer be allowed to impose additional taxes on minerals.
Hemant Soren Calls Bill Unfair to Jharkhand
Hemant Soren stated his position and that of his party in a social media post. He said the Centre had acted against Jharkhand’s interests by getting the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed in both Houses of Parliament in haste.
He described the legislation as a “black bill” and said it was an injustice to Jharkhand and its people. According to Soren, the move would have a major impact on the state’s development and future. He said Jharkhand would not tolerate such “stepmotherly treatment.”
Soren Claims State Schemes Could Be Affected
The Chief Minister alleged that the legislation becoming law would affect several schemes run by the Jharkhand government. He said social security schemes covering crores of people, including the Maiya Samman Yojana, Abua Awas Yojana, pensions, education and healthcare programmes, could be pushed towards closure.
Soren said the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha strongly opposes the Bill. He warned that if the Centre does not withdraw the legislation, Jharkhand will launch a major movement that the entire country will see.
Protest Warning Across Jharkhand
The Chief Minister said strong protests would be organised in every district, block, panchayat and city of Jharkhand.
He further said that if the Centre did not take notice and the rights of Jharkhand and its people were not restored, the state would not hesitate to take “decisive and historic” decisions.
What Does the Mineral Amendment Bill Provide?
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, explicitly states that state governments will not be allowed to impose any tax, cess or other charge on mineral rights, irrespective of the name under which it is imposed.
These provisions will not be limited to mineral rights and will also apply to mineral-bearing land. However, subject to conditions or restrictions prescribed by the Centre, taxes or charges may be imposed in relation to such land based on the quantity of minerals, their value, royalty or any other basis.
For this purpose, the Bill proposes adding a new section to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
The Bill also provides that if any tax, cess or other charge imposed before the commencement of the 2026 Amendment Act had not been deposited with or collected by the state government, it would be treated as illegal in every respect.
However, any tax, cess or charge imposed before that date on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land that had already been deposited with or collected by the state government would not be refunded.
