Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 · General restrictions on undertaking prospecting and mining operations
Section 7: Periods for which prospecting licences may be granted or renewed
(1) The period for which [a reconnaissance permit or prospecting licence] may be granted shall not exceed three years.
(2) A prospecting licence shall, if the State Government is satisfied that a longer period is required to enable the licensee to complete prospecting operations be renewed for such period or periods as that Government may specify:
Provided that the total period for which a prospecting licence is granted does not exceed five years:
Provided further that no prospecting licence granted in respect of [a mineral included in Part A and Part B to] the First Schedule shall be renewed except with the previous approval of the Central Government.]
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 7
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