The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified key changes to the Forest Conservation and Augmentation Rules 2023, simplifying approval processes for mining critical minerals in forest areas.

Announcing the decision at the CII Sustainability Summit in New Delhi, Minister Bhupender Yadav said the move aligns with the government’s National Critical Mineral Mission 2025, which targets self-reliance in 24 minerals vital for clean energy technologies, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earths. "Taking cognizance of the provisions of the National Critical Mineral Mission 2025, the MoEFCC has notified certain amendments... in order to simplify the approval process for mining of these critical minerals in forest areas, for both public and private entities," the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change  stated.

Additionally, the MoEFCC revised the Green Credit Programme methodology on August 29, allowing private participation, ensuring minimum restoration commitments and mobilising private capital for eco-restoration. On the same day, the government also enacted the Environment Audit Rules 2025, creating a formal two-tier framework for environmental audits nationwide. Yadav emphasised that evolving geopolitics, trade tensions and industrial growth call for rethinking