Lok Sabha Question No. 4288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Mineral Exploration under NMEP
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4288

ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## MINERAL EXPLORATION UNDER NMEP

4288. SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken to accelerate mineral exploration and resource mapping under the National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP);
- (b) the details of the regions identified for mineral exploration along with the minerals targeted under NMEP; and
- (c) the role of private players and public-private partnerships in mineral exploration along with the incentives provided to them?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): To intensify exploration activities in line with the National Mineral Exploration Policy  (NMEP),  various  strategies  adopted  by  the  Geological  Survey  of  India,  an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, to identify more regions and new minerals for mineral exploration in the country are as follows:

-  GSI through National Geochemical Mapping (NGCM)  programme  has completed 21.39 lakh sq. km in the targeted priority areas to derive anomalous zone/s  of  elemental  concentration.  Under  its  National  Geophysical  Mapping (NGPM) programme, an area of 16.84 lakh sq. km has been mapped.
-  National Aero-Geophysical Mapping Programme (NAGMP) is another flagship programme of GSI launched to acquire uniform aero-geophysical data at 80 m height and 120 m spacing in soil- covered terrains for demarcating potential concealed  mineral  areas.  Survey  under  NAGMP  has  been  completed  in  7 blocks and 322 anomaly areas were identified.
-  GSI  has  also  intensified  mineral  exploration  programmes  on  critical  and strategic minerals over the years. Since FS 2016-17 to 2023-24, GSI had taken up  a  total  of  2169  mineral  exploration  programmes  for  various  mineral commodities including 704 projects on critical and strategic minerals across the country.  During  FS  2024-25,  GSI  has  taken  up  437  mineral  exploration programmes including 195 projects on critical and strategic minerals in different parts of the country.
-  GSI  has  systematically  mapped  about  20.43  lakh  sq  km  within  Exclusive Economic  Zone  (EEZ)  of  the  country.  Based  on  the  acquired  marine geoscientific data, GSI has delineated 5.89 lakh Offshore Prospective Areas (OPA)  for  focused  explorations  within  EEZ  for  various  minerals  viz.  heavy minerals, lime-mud, construction sand, polymetallic nodules/crust etc. GSI is also  giving  thrust  for  preliminary  mineral  exploration  in  OPA  areas  by  G4 surveys followed by close grid exploration (G3) in EEZ for augmenting offshore mineral resource potential.
-  Some  of  the  significant  mineral  blocks  developed  by  GSI  through  mineral exploration  projects  across  the  country  in  the  recent  years  are,  REE  ore  in Kawalapur,  Maharashtra,  Batesarthan,  Bihar  and  Gundlupet,  Karnataka, Tungsten  ore  and  Lithium  ore  in  Rewat  Hill,  Rajasthan,  Nickel  ore  in Banasandra,  Karnataka,  Vanadium  ore  &  Graphite  ore  in  Radhpu  Block, Arunachal Pradesh  and  Adhamaniya  block,  Jharkhand,  Copper  ore  in Madansahi-Kesharpur East, Odisha, Copper ore & Gold ore in Machanur West Block,  Karnataka,  Potash  ore  in  Satipura  sub-basin  blocks,  Rajasthan, Phosphorite  ore  in  Sambalpur  &  Bhedi  blocks,  Chhattisgarh,  Gallium  ore  & Vanadium ore in North of Rouni block, Chhattisgarh and Iron Ore in Barpada South & Gadadharpur Blocks, Odisha.

(c):  As  per  the  MMDR  Amendment  Act,  2021,  a  provision  has  been  made  for notification of accredited private exploration agencies under the second proviso to subsection (1) of section 4 of the Act to undertake exploration without prospecting licence. Further,  such  agencies  have  been  allowed  to  obtain  funding  under  the  National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). As per the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, a new mineral concession called Exploration Licence (EL) has been introduced for 29 critical and  deep-seated  minerals  specified  in  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Act.  The  EL granted through auction shall permit the licencee to undertake reconnaissance and prospecting operations for these 29 critical and deep-seated minerals.

The Ministry of Mines has notified 31 private exploration agencies (NPEAs) and NMET has till date funded 72 projects of NPEAs with total approved cost of ₹ 122.34 crores.  Further,  Mobilization  advance  (up  to  30%  of  the  approved  project  cost)  is available for NPEAs against submission of Bank Guarantee of equal value to help them mobilize their resources for smooth execution of exploration activity. NMET has launched a scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration expense for holders of Exploration  Licences  where  NMET  will  partially  reimburse  exploration  expenses incurred by Exploration Licence Holders upto 50% of direct cost with ceiling of ₹20 Crores.  NMET  also  supports  holders  of  Composite  Licences  with  the  scheme  for Partial reimbursement of exploration expenses  upto 50% of direct cost incurred for exploration with ceiling of ₹ 8 Crores. Furthermore, NMET also provides Exploration Incentive of 25% of the approved cost of the project for G4 items in greenfield areas for gold, basemetals, other precious minerals, strategic/ critical minerals and fertilizer minerals if the block is upgraded from G4 to G3 Stage.

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