State governments where the Congress is in power are likely to challenge the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, in the Supreme Court, the party said, alleging that the law undermines the States’ rights.

While Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh are already on board, Congress is in talks with its ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to get the Jharkhand government, too, to challenge the amendment Act in the top court.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, passed by the Parliament on August 13 seeks to restrict the State’s powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.

However, Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, in his statement in the Rajya Sabha, had clarified that the legislation does not seek to interfere with the autonomy or revenue rights of States, but only aims to ensure uniform mineral rates across the country.

Reddy further said that the Centre was seeking to only regulate major minerals such as coal, limestone, iron ore, copper and manganese, and that the States would continue to have powers over 49 minor minerals.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday urged the Centre to withdraw the amendment Act, objecting to its restrictive provisions. He wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Reddy on the issue.

In Kerala, where the Congress recently came to power, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the amendments to the Act are against federal principles and therefore, it will be strongly opposed.