Lok Sabha Question No. 1411 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-28
Subject: Promotion of Non-Coal Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1411

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

## PROMOTION OF NON-COAL MINERALS

## 1411  SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  National  Mineral  Exploration  Trust  has  been  set  up  to  promote non-coal minerals and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether all States/UTs have set up District Mineral Foundations in pursuance  of  the  Mines  and  Minerals  (Development  and  Regulation)  Amendment Act, 2015 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken to monitor implementation of various provisions of the said act?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a)  National Mineral Exploration Trust has been set up by the Central Government in pursuance of powers conferred by Section 9C  (1) of Mines and Minerals (Development  &  Regulation)  Amendment  Act,  2015  vide  gazette  notification dated 14th August 2015 to enhance  mineral exploration activities in the country.

The  National  Mineral  Exploration  Trust  Rules  were  notified  on  14 th August,  2015, which were subsequently amended and National Mineral Exploration Trust (Amendment) Rules, 2018 were notified on 7 th March, 2018.

Now, as per the  recent  amendment  in  the  Mines  and  Minerals  (Development  and Regulation)  Amendment  Act,2021,  vide  Notification  no-18(E)  dated  28 th March, 2021,  NMET has to be established as a 'non-profit Autonomous Body '.

The  objective  of  the  trust  is  to  use  the  accrued  funds  for  taking  up  regional  and detailed exploration, for coal and non-coal minerals, by giving priority to strategic and critical  minerals,  funding  special  studies  &  projects  designed  to  identify,  explore, extract,  beneficiate and  refine deep  seated or concealed mineral deposit, facilitate geophysical, ground and aerial survey and geochemical survey of Obvious Geological Potential areas and rest of India, organizing capacity building programmes to raise technical capability of personnel engaged in or to be engaged in  exploration  and  using  Trust  Fund  for  purposes  necessary  or  expedient  in  the interest of conservation, development and exploitation of mineral resources of India.

- (b)  Till date, DMFs have been set up in 600 districts of 22 States.
- (c)   The MMDR Act, 1957 was amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, notified on 27th March, 2015 and which came into effect from 12th January, 2015. To implement the provisions of said Act, the following rules have been made under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015:

(i) The Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015. (ii) The Mineral ( Auction) Rules, 2015. (iii) The Mineral (Non-exclusive Reconnaissance Permits) Rules, 2015. (iv)  The National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2015. (v)  The  Mines  and  Minerals  (Contribution  to  District  Mineral  Foundation) Rules, 2015. (vi) The Mineral (Mining by Government Company) Rules, 2015. (vii)  The  Minerals  (Other  than  Atomic  and  Hydro  Carbon  Energy  Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016. (viii)  Minerals  (Transfer  of  Mining  Lease  Granted  Otherwise  than  through Auction for Captive Purpose) Rules, 2016. (ix) The Atomic Mineral Concession Rules, 2016. (x) Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017.

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