India’s mining output surged 11.6% year‑on‑year, reaching ₹1.86 lakh crore in FY 2025‑26, up from ₹1.30 lakh crore a decade earlier.
The Ministry of Mines announced the Mineral Exchange Rules, 2026, in June, paving the way for a state‑of‑the‑art electronic platform that will standardise quality assessment and enable transparent price discovery.
Mines Additional Secretary Veena Kumari Dermal said the exchange will feature risk‑management mechanisms to curb market manipulation and protect participants, adding that it will provide producers and buyers with a globally competitive marketplace.
Iron‑ore production leapt from 152 million tonnes in 2013‑14 to 312 million tonnes last year, while limestone rose to 483 million tonnes and bauxite to 26 million tonnes, underscoring the sector’s expansion.
With imports of minerals amounting to ₹10.12 lakh crore in FY 2025‑26, the government’s focus on the exchange is aimed at reducing the heavy burden on the exchequer and boosting domestic capacity.
Analysts predict that the new platform could lift mining‑related indices by up to 10% as price transparency reduces information asymmetry and attracts foreign investment.
Looking ahead, the exchange is slated for registration and operation by the next financial year, and mining firms are expected to adjust their valuation models to incorporate the anticipated efficiency gains.