Jharkhand Schedules Two-Day Assembly Session on Amended Mines Law and Electoral-Roll Revision

The Jharkhand government will convene a two-day special session of the Legislative Assembly on November 25-26 to debate the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The decision follows a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on October 27, 2026, where the proposal was approved.

The Hindu

The amendment, passed by Parliament in August 2026, removes states’ authority to levy a cess on mined land—a revenue stream the Jharkhand government had projected at INR14,000 crore for FY 2026-27. Simultaneously, the SIR process for electoral rolls has sparked nationwide protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities. The Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) plans a rally in Delhi on November 1 as part of these demonstrations.

Hindustan Times

Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore warned that the amended mines law could cause “financial losses” to the state and pledged that the government will act in line with the assembly’s deliberations. The administration also announced plans to file a court challenge against the amendment, arguing that it undermines the state’s fiscal autonomy.

The Hindu

• Target cess revenue for FY 2026-27: INR14,000 crore (pre-amendment estimate).

Hindustan Times

• The amendment eliminates the state’s right to levy this cess, prompting the proposed legal challenge.

Hindustan Times

• “The cabinet approved the proposal to convene a special session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on November 25-26,” — Vandana Dadel, the additional chief secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance Department

The Hindu

• “Given the current situation that has arisen in connection with the MMDR law and SIR, we believe that a detailed discussion on these is necessary. Therefore, a short-duration session of the Assembly has been convened,” — CM Soren, chaired by chief

The Hindu