Lok Sabha Question No. 2985 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: AI-based Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri K Gopinath

## 2985. SHRI K GOPINATH:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of mines across the country where drone surveys, AI-based mineral assessment and IoT-based monitoring systems have been implemented to promote sustainable mining;
- (b)  the  reforms  incorporated  in  existing  mining  license  regulations  to  mandate environmental  protection,  water  recycling  and  mine  closure  plans  in  mining  areas along with the proposed new policies in this regard;
- (c) the present status of Digital Mining Dashboards, real-time production monitoring and AI-based safety systems; and
- (d)  whether  the  said  measures  have  been  made  mandatory  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): The Central Government has adopted technology in mining sector for monitoring the mining activities using application of digital aerial images (drone and satellite) by incorporating  regulatory  provisions  in  the  Mineral  Conservation  and  Development Rules, 2017 [MCDR, 2017].

A  Drone  Data  Management  System  (DDMS)  has  been  developed  for  online submission of digital aerial images. During the last three years, a total of 3,852 digital images have been submitted on this portal. These steps ensure better supervision of mining operations.

The  Ministry  of  Mines  has  also  incorporated  provisions  for  Sustainable  Mining Practices  under  Chapter-V  of  MCDR,  2017  which  provides  Rules  for  precaution against air pollution, prevention of discharge of toxic liquid, precaution against noise, control of surface subsidence etc. Rule 35 of MCDR, 2017 provides for star rating of the mining leases based on the sustainable mining practices adopted by the miners.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2985

ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## AI-BASED MINING

(b): As per existing law, before execution of the mining lease, it is mandatory for the prospective lessees to obtain the requisite statutory clearances, including Environmental Clearance. The lease holders are required to ensure compliance of the terms and conditions of the clearances and approvals accorded by the respective authorities, failing which necessary action is taken by the concerned authorities under the respective Acts and applicable Rules/Guidelines.

The  mining  projects  are  also  mandated  to  obtain  the  No  Objection  Certificate  for ground water extraction subject to specific conditions under the guidelines issued by the  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  to  regulate  and  control  ground  water  extraction  in  India. Further, groundwater monitoring and quantity of recycled water as a percentage of total  water  withdrawal  from  external  sources  are  included  as  parameters  in  the evaluation template for star rating of mines.

Under MCDR, 2017, every lease holder is also required to prepare a Progressive Mine Closure Plan (PMCP) and Final Mine Closure Plan (FMCP). The lease holders are mandated  to  submit  a  yearly  report  informing  about  the  extent  of  protective  and rehabilitative works carried out as per the mine closure plan, failing which the financial assurance given by the lease holder is forfeited by the State Government.

(c)  &  (d):  The  Indian  Bureau  of  Mines  (IBM)  has  developed  the  Mining  Tenement System (MTS) portal, which is designed to streamline processes, enhance transparency,  and  improve  efficiency  in  mineral  resource  management.  It  also promotes the objective of ease of doing business. It has various modules which are being  used  by  various  stakeholders  for  the  purpose  of  reporting.  Also,  an  MTS Dashboard has been developed which is dynamic and provides updated information regarding production by the leaseholders. The MTS portal has been developed as per Rule 73 of MCDR, 2017.

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