The Ministry of Mines has issued Notification G.S.R. 858(E) dated 20 November 2025, amending the Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Exercising powers under Section 9(3) of the Act, the Central Government has revised and expanded royalty structures for certain critical and strategic minerals.
This amendment introduces new royalty rates for Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium, while revising the existing royalty structure for Graphite, bringing the schedule in line with the evolving mineral economics and critical mineral policy focus.
Key Amendments to the Second Schedule
1. New Royalty Rate for Caesium
A new entry 6A has been inserted:
| Mineral | Royalty Rate |
| Caesium | 2% of the average sale price of Caesium metal, chargeable on the Caesium metal contained in the ore produced |
2. Revised Royalty Structure for Graphite
Item 22 has been substituted with differentiated royalty rates based on fixed carbon content:
| Graphite Grade | Royalty Rate |
| ≥ 80% fixed carbon | 2% of average sale price (ad valorem) |
| < 80% fixed carbon | 4% of average sale price (ad valorem) |
3. New Royalty Rate for Rubidium
A new entry 38C has been added:
| Mineral | Royalty Rate |
| Rubidium | 2% of the average sale price of Rubidium metal, chargeable on the Rubidium metal contained in the ore produced |
4. New Royalty Rate for Zirconium
A new entry 54B has been inserted:
| Mineral | Royalty Rate |
| Zirconium | 1% of the average sale price of Zirconium metal, chargeable on the Zirconium metal contained in the ore produced |