2457 procurers and manufacturers are likely to scrutinise upstream suppliers to ensure compliance with global responsible practices. The objective of the paper is to develop methods to mitigate the adverse impacts of mining and processing non-fuel minerals in India, thus enhancing more equitable economic gains and positioning India as an attractive and sustainable jurisdiction for mineral investment. The sustainability of the mineral sector in India has been a pressing concern due to its historic environmental and community impacts. While India has some safeguards that enable responsible mining operations, these regulations should be evaluated against internationally recognised good practices. This paper proposes a framework for responsible mining and processing that entails five pillars: (i) Resource Allocation, (ii) Environmental Sustainability, (iii) Community Benefit Sharing, (iv) Health and Safety and (v) Monitoring and regulation. The authors have identified three priority areas under each of these pillars based on their field studies and consultations across the top three mining states in India – Odisha, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The paper aims to inform policymakers and industry experts about the concerns communities face and the solutions that could help mitigate them. The effective implementation of this framework would require coordinated efforts by regulatory authorities and private entities to build a more responsible mineral sector in India. 2. METHODOLOGY An extensive review of India's mining and environmental legislation, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957, and the Environment Protection Act, 1988, is conducted to evaluate the existing mechanisms for addressing responsible mining challenges. The paper also critically examines the safeguards provided to communities under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, the regulations pertaining to local governing bodies of a village – Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996 and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act, 2013. Globally recognised frameworks for responsible mineral value chains, proposed by renowned organisations such as the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), have been analysed to assess their applicability in the Indian context. Secondary literature helped the authors identify priority areas for responsible practices in India and their limitations. Primary stakeholder consultations were conducted across three major mining states in India – Odisha, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Industry site visits, government meetings, and focused group discussions with communities have contributed to the development of the inclusive and practical framework outlined in this paper. 3. SCRUTINY OF GLOBAL MINERAL VALUE CHAINS 3.1 Regulatory Levers Governments deploy a range of regulatory levers to embed sustainability within mining and processing through effective monitoring and evaluation. Such levers typically begin with statutory clearances and impact assessments, followed by requirements on transparency, traceability, mitigation measures, and community benefit-sharing. It extends further to post-closure obligations, including rehabilitation guarantees, waste management protocols, and occupational safety standards. For example, Canada's Impact Assessment Act integrates indigenous knowledge and indigenous people's active participation in the project approval and impact assessment process. Resource-rich Global South economies are increasingly focusing on the development of socio-economic conditions and natural resources through increased downstream linkages and regional beneficiation. South Africa's Mining Charter 2018 is premised on equitable benefitsharing and redressal of historical injustices. Chilean Law 20551 mandates mine closure planning across the mine lifecycle, backed by enforceable measures and guarantees to move closure from an end-of-life promise to a regulated lifecycle obligation. To strengthen the supply chain due diligence, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 2010 (Section 13(p), 1502) compels US-listed companies to disclose the sourcing of conflict minerals; wherever applicable, issuers must also report the due diligence measures undertaken to verify the minerals' source and chain of custody.
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