Jharkhand CM and BJP Clash Over Mineral Amendment Bill

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to reconsider the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Soren raised concerns that proposed restrictions on states' mineral taxation power pose constitutional, fiscal, developmental and federal issues. He noted that mining revenue accounts for 84.9 percent of Jharkhand's non-tax revenue in 2024-25, and the state's Mineral Bearing Land Cess enacted in 2024 is expected to generate around Rs 11,000 crore annually.

State BJP president Aditya Sahu hit back, accusing the state government of misleading people for political gain. Sahu contended the amendment aims to bring uniformity to the taxation system across the country and described it as ending what he termed "loot in the name of cess." He argued the MMDR amendment would boost investment, competitiveness and transparency in the mining sector while supporting national security and self-reliance.