Consider the following statements regarding the recently approved Mine...
The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on January 10, 2020. The Ordinance amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP Act). The ordinance allows any India-registered company to bid and develop coal blocks. So, statement (1) is correct.
Removal of restriction on end-use of coal: Currently, companies acquiring Schedule II and Schedule III coal mines through auctions can use the coal produced only for specified end-uses such as power generation and steel production. The Ordinance removes this restriction on the use of coal mined by such companies.
Eligibility for auction of coal and lignite blocks: The Ordinance clarifies that the companies need not possess any prior coal mining experience in India in order to participate in the auction of coal and lignite blocks.
Composite license for prospecting and mining: Currently, separate licenses are provided for prospecting and mining of coal and lignite, called prospecting license, and mining lease, respectively. But now there will be a composite license issued as prospecting cum mining license for mining of coal and lignite. So, statement (2) is correct. Therefore, the answer is (d).