Lok Sabha Question No. 1764 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: National Mineral Exploration Trust
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Satish Kumar Gautam, Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary, Shri Radheshyam Rathiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †1764

ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025

## NATIONAL MINERAL EXPLORATION TRUST

†1764. SHRI RADHESHYAM RATHIYA: SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY: SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) has supported mineral exploration activities particularly in critical minerals in the country including Chhattisgarh and Odisha during the last one year;
- (b) whether the NMET has provided financial assistance to projects undertaken by private exploration agencies;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any exploration activity has been undertaken to assess the availability of precious stones in Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh;
- (e) if not, whether any exploration activities are proposed to be undertaken there in future; and
- (f) if so, the outline thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): NMET has  supported  128  Mineral  Exploration  (ME)  projects  out  of  which  72 Mineral Exploration (ME) projects are for critical minerals during 2024-25. The details of approved projects by NMET during Financial Year 2024-25 is given in Annexure-I.
- (b): Yes
- (c): The details of NMET funded projects to NPEAs is given in Annexure -II :
- (d) to (f): No mineral exploration proposal has been received for precious stones in Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh for NMET funding. Exploration projects are taken up in an area on the basis of analysis of available geoscience data from time to time.

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Annexure- I The details of approved projects by NMET during Financial Year 2024-25

|              | Total Mineral Exploration (ME) Projects for FY 2024-25   | Total Mineral Exploration (ME) Projects for FY 2024-25   | Total Mineral Exploration (ME) Projects for FY 2024-25   | Critical Mineral Projects for FY 2024-25   | Critical Mineral Projects for FY 2024-25   | Critical Mineral Projects for FY 2024-25   |
|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|              | Total No. of Project s                                   | Total sanctione d amount (₹ in Cr.)                      | Total Disburse d Cost (₹ in Cr.)                         | Total No. of Project s                     | Total sanctione d amount (₹ in Cr.)        | Total Disburse d Cost (₹ in Cr.)           |
| Whole of     | India128                                                 | 312.87                                                   | 110.42                                                   | 72                                         | 201                                        | 69.91                                      |
| Odisha       | 8                                                        | 14.12                                                    | 5.51                                                     | 6                                          | 10.53                                      | 4.07                                       |
| Chhattisgarh | 4                                                        | 4.63                                                     | 1.01                                                     | 2                                          | 2.10                                       | 0.46                                       |

Annexure- II The details of NMET funded projects to NPEAs

| Financial Year      | Total Mineral Exploration (ME) Projects for FY 2024-25   | Total Mineral Exploration (ME) Projects for FY 2024-25   | Total Mineral Exploration (ME) Projects for FY 2024-25   |
|---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| Financial Year      | Total No. of Projects                                    | Total sanctioned amount (₹ in Cr.)                       | Total Disbursed Cost (₹ in Cr.)                          |
| 2022-23             | 03                                                       | 4.59                                                     | 3.12                                                     |
| 2023-24             | 23                                                       | 27.58                                                    | 12.16                                                    |
| 2024-25             | 46                                                       | 90.36                                                    | 14.99                                                    |
| 2025-26 (till date) | 07                                                       | 12.80                                                    | 0                                                        |

# The scheme for Notified Private Exploration Agencies (NPEAs) was launched in FY 2022-23.