What happened: Jharkhand announces Supreme Court challenge to MMDR Act amendments
Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore said the Jharkhand government will move the Supreme Court against amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act). Kishore stated that the Jharkhand government expects the amended provisions to create a major revenue impact on the state exchequer.
Kishore estimated the revenue impact at about ₹14,000 crore. Kishore also alleged that the amendments would affect social welfare schemes in Jharkhand, with a specific mention of the women-focused Maiyan Samman Yojana.
Kishore further stated that Jharkhand chief minister has issued an order directing legal action in the Supreme Court.
Background and earlier position: why states may challenge mining-law changes
The MMDR Act is a central framework that governs development and regulation of mines and minerals. States prepare budgets with expectations about mining-related revenues. If a central-law amendment is alleged to reduce state revenue or alter regulatory outcomes for particular states, the dispute can turn into a constitutional and legal question about how courts should review the impact of such amendments.