The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has been authorised to register and regulate domestic mineral exchanges, according to a gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Mines on Thursday. The decision follows the August amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, empowering the Centre to promote organised mineral trading platforms in the country. The move marks a major policy shift aimed at introducing market-based mechanisms for mineral price discovery, similar to international benchmarks like the London Metal Exchange (LME).
Also Read: Parliament Cleared Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025
Aim to Ensure Transparent and Fair Trading
Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said the establishment of mineral exchanges will enable miners, traders, and industries to determine prices transparently, based on supply and demand dynamics. The exchanges will facilitate trading in minerals, their concentrates, and processed forms including metals, giving India’s mining ecosystem a more structured and transparent pricing environment. The Centre will retain the authority to grant or revoke licences, while IBM will frame and enforce the regulatory framework for these exchanges.
Also Read: Coal India Set to Launch Roadshows for BCCL, CMPDI IPO
IBM to Prevent Market Distortion and Manipulation
The notification specifies that IBM will act as the market regulator, ensuring fair play and preventing any practices detrimental to participants. Its responsibilities will include oversight against cartelisation, insider trading, circular trading, and other manipulative behaviour. Officials said the regulatory framework will be designed to encourage market efficiency and investor confidence, creating an ecosystem that aligns India’s mineral sector with global trading standards while maintaining domestic oversight and accountability.
Also Read: CMPDI Received Exploration Licence for Rare Earth Block in Rajasthan
By institutionalising exchanges under IBM’s supervision, the Government seeks to enhance transparency, attract investment, and integrate India’s mineral economy with global value chains. Once operational, the exchanges are expected to play a key role in setting benchmark mineral prices, improving revenue visibility for miners, and ensuring a level playing field for both state and private participants.
Also Read: SAIL Merged All Mining Units, Formed Central Mining & Logistics Organisation
Join the WhatsApp Group of Business Jharkhand to Stay tuned for all the latest updates of industrial-political developments in Jharkhand.
