Lok Sabha Question No. 479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Mining of Rare Mineral in Barmer and Jaisalmer
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 479

ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## MINING OF RARE MINERAL IN BARMER AND JAISALMER

†479. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the mining policy of the country and the mechanisms in place to implement the same along with the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  any  mineral  elements  that  have  been  identified  during  the  geological survey in Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the proposed action plan along with the details thereof;
- (c) whether as per the survey conducted by the Land Department sixteen rare minerals including monazite, Uranium, Thorium, that have been found in Siwana, Mokalsar, Sindhari area of Balotara district which are very important from economic and strategic point of view;
- (d) whether the Government has any action plan for mining in said identified mineral blocks;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the details of the gravel mining policy and the current status of allocation of gravel mining leases in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts along with the details of progress and plan to start mining operations?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):  The  umbrella  legislation  for  regulation  of  mines  and  mineral  development  is provided in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).  The  Act  contains  provisions  for  classification  of  minerals,  maximum  area  for which mineral concession may be granted, periods for which a mineral concession may be granted, royalties in respect of mining leases, grant of mineral concessions through auction, power of Central Government to make Rules in respect of minerals, power of State Governments to make Rules in respect of minor minerals, reservation of areas for purposes of conservation etc.
- (b) to (e): The Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines, has undertaken 47 exploration projects for various mineral commodities in Barmer,

Jaisalmer and Balotra (formerly part of Barmer district) districts of Rajasthan during 2021-22 and 2025-26.

As an outcome of the mineral exploration programmes, GSI has established resources of  Limestone  (5021.1  million  tonnes)  in  Jaisalmer  and  resources  of  Rare  Earth Elements (81.8 million tonnes), Niobium (67.6 million tonnes), Niobium and Tantalum (6.8 million tonnes), Rubidium (19 million tonnes), Zirconium (52.5 million tonnes) and Hafnium (0.3 million tonnes) in Barmer districts of Rajasthan.

Further, as per information provided by Department of Atomic Energy, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has undertaken detailed exploration in  Siwana  Ring  Complex,  Balotra  district  for  Rare  Earth  Elements  and  associated elements. The AMD has submitted the geological report of Bhatikhera area, Balotra district to the Central Government and to Government of Rajasthan.

The  auction  for  grant  of  mineral  concession  in  respect  of  24  critical  and  strategic minerals listed in the Part-D of the First Schedule to the MMDR Act is done by the Central  Government. The  Bhatikhera  block  is  a  critical  mineral  block.  The  Central Government notifies mineral blocks of critical minerals for auction from time to time.

(f): Gravel is a minor mineral as per Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act. As per Section 15 of the MMDR Act, the State Governments are empowered to make rules for regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of minor  minerals  and  for  purposes  connected  therewith.  Accordingly,  the  respective States Governments have framed the Minor Mineral Concession Rules.

*****