Lengthy approvals, weak exploration intensity and infrastructure bottlenecks continue to hold back India’s mining sector despite the country being among the world’s leading producers of coal, iron ore, zinc and chromite, according to an Icra report released at the India Mines and Minerals Conclave 2026. The report identifies regulatory approvals and land acquisition as among the biggest impediments to faster mine development, with a typical coal mining project in India requiring around 48 months to secure statutory clearances and land acquisition.