The central energy and infrastructure laws of India power the economy — the Electricity Act, 2003 governing the grid, the mining regime under the Mines and Minerals Act, and the statutes covering coal, oil, gas and atomic energy.
Energy sits between the Union and State Lists in different parts: electricity generation and mineral development are shared fields, while atomic energy is exclusively central. The Electricity Act, 2003 fused the older laws into a single framework built on regulators and open access; the MMDR Act governs every mining lease in the country; and the 2015 coal and minerals amendments moved allocation to auctions.
This page lists the principal central statutes, what each covers, and links to authoritative texts. All acts here are central laws enacted by Parliament — state-enacted laws are covered separately.
Contents
Power and Coal
| Act | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003) | Generation, transmission, distribution and trading of electricity; open access; the Central and State Regulatory Commissions and the Appellate Tribunal. |
| Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962) | Development and control of atomic energy under the central government, including nuclear installations and materials. |
| Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (11 of 2015) | Allocation of coal blocks by auction following the Supreme Court’s 2014 order, and the management of coal mines through this regime. It replaced the coal-nationalisation framework of the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973. |
Mines, Oil and Gas
| Act | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952) | Safety, health and welfare of mine workers and the mine inspectorate. |
| Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) | The umbrella law for mining: reconnaissance, prospecting and mining leases, auction rules and royalties. Key amendment: MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015. |
| Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 (53 of 1948) | Mining leases for oil and gas fields and the regulation of petroleum operations. |
| Petroleum Act, 1934 (30 of 1934) | Import, transport and storage of petroleum under licence and the classes of dangerous petroleum. |
| Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 (50 of 1962) | Right of user in land for laying petroleum and minerals pipelines. |
For the environmental clearances these projects need, see our environmental laws library; for land acquisition, the central land and property laws library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who fixes electricity tariffs?
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for inter-state matters and the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (in the state) for retail tariffs, under the Electricity Act, 2003.
How are mining leases granted now?
Through auctions under the MMDR Act as amended in 2015, which replaced the first-come-first-served dispensation.
Which law governs coal block allocation?
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, enacted after the Supreme Court cancelled the earlier allocations.
This page is a general library guide published for the Knowledge Centre and is not legal advice. For advice on a specific matter, please contact the firm.