Lok Sabha Question No. 528 (STARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Funds and Project Outcomes under NMEDT
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Kali Charan Singh, Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.  †*528

ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026

## FUNDS AND PROJECT OUTCOMES UNDER NMEDT

†*528: SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  amount  of funds  collected  under the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) along with the amount sanctioned for mineral exploration projects during the last five years, year-wise; (b) the number of mineral exploration projects approved under the NMEDT during the last five years along with their distribution, State and  project-wise including Chhattisgarh and Karnataka; (c) whether any projects are under implementation in Dakshin Kannada district and if so, the details thereof along with their current status; (d) the separate number of projects completed under progress and at different stages of exploration as well; (e) the agencies and institutions currently engaged in carrying out exploration activities under NMEDT including the participation of private exploration agencies; (f)  the  number  of  mineral  blocks  identified  or  advanced  to  the  detailed  exploration stage through NMEDT-supported projects in the country particularly in Karnataka; and (g)  the  number  of  such  blocks  subsequently  made  available  for  auction  or  further
- development?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

*****

THE  STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.  + *528 REGARDING 'FUNDS AND PROJECT OUTCOMES UNDER NMEDT' ASKED BY SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA AND SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR REPLY ON 01 ST  APRIL 2026.

- a. Year-wise detail of fund collected under the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) along with the amount sanctioned for mineral exploration projects during last five years (from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26) is given at Annexure 1 .
- b. Details of mineral exploration projects approved under NMEDT during last 5 years  (State-wise),  including  Chhattisgarh  and  Karnataka  are  given  at Annexure 2.

Details of exploration projects are available at https://nmet.gov.in/.

- c. 02 Baseline survey projects of Geological Survey of India under the National Aero-geophysical Mapping Programme in Block 7 (in Belthangady, Moodubidire & Mulki talukas) and Block 16 (in Mangaluru, Moodabidri, Mulki, Ullala,  Bantwala,  Belthangady,  Puttur,  Sullia  &  Kadaba talukas)  of  Dakshin Kannada district funded under NMEDT have been taken up.
- d. 570 mineral exploration projects in G1, G2, G3, G4 and RMT stage have been taken up, out of which 302 projects have been completed.
- e. List of agencies, including Notified Private Exploration Agencies, engaged in exploration activities under NMEDT is given at Annexure 3.
- f. & (g) 40 NMEDT funded projects have been upgraded, including 23 projects to G3 stage and 17 projects to G2 stage. This includes 01 project upgraded to G2 stage in Karnataka. Out of these, 08 projects were subsequently made available for auction, from which 11 blocks were carved out and successfully auctioned.

## Detail of fund collected under NMEDT along with the amount sanctioned for mineral exploration projects during last five years

| Sl. No.   | Financial Year   | Fund Collected (₹ in Crore)   | Amount Sanctioned (₹ in Crore)   |
|-----------|------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 1         | 2021-22          | 885.60                        | 84.39                            |
| 2         | 2022-23          | 934.72                        | 168.96                           |
| 3         | 2023-24          | 950.97                        | 148.36                           |
| 4         | 2024-25          | 1,001.42                      | 306.16                           |
| 5         | 2025-26          | 1,055.45                      | 375.43                           |
|           | Total            | 4,828.16                      | 1,083.30                         |

State/UT -wise details of mineral exploration projects approved under NMEDT during last 5 years (from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26)

| Sl. No.   | State             |   No. of Projects |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    |                 5 |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh |                 4 |
| 3         | Assam             |                15 |
| 4         | Chhattisgarh      |                28 |
| 5         | Gujarat           |                49 |
| 6         | Jammu and Kashmir |                 1 |
| 7         | Jharkhand         |                28 |
| 8         | Karnataka         |                29 |
| 9         | Kerala            |                 4 |
| 10        | Ladakh            |                 1 |
| 11        | Madhya Pradesh    |                68 |
| 12        | Maharashtra       |                37 |
| 13        | Manipur           |                 3 |
| 14        | Meghalaya         |                 2 |
| 15        | Nagaland          |                 2 |
| 16        | Odisha            |                43 |
| 17        | Punjab            |                 2 |
| 18        | Rajasthan         |                44 |
| 19        | Sikkim            |                 1 |
| 20        | Tamil Nadu        |                14 |
| 21        | Telangana         |                22 |
| 22        | Uttar Pradesh     |                 6 |
| 23        | Uttarakhand       |                 9 |
| 24        | West Bengal       |                 4 |
|           | Total             |               421 |

## List  of  Exploration  Agencies  currently  engaged  in  carrying  out  exploration activities under NMEDT

| STATE DGM/ DMG                                               | STATE DGM/ DMG                                               |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.                                                           | Assam                                                        |
| 2.                                                           | Chhattisgarh                                                 |
| 3.                                                           | Gujarat                                                      |
| 4.                                                           | Karnataka                                                    |
| 5.                                                           | Maharashtra                                                  |
| 6.                                                           | Meghalaya                                                    |
| 7.                                                           | Nagaland                                                     |
| 8.                                                           | Odisha                                                       |
| 9.                                                           | Uttar Pradesh                                                |
| Exploration Agency (EA)/Notified Exploration Agencies (NEAs) | Exploration Agency (EA)/Notified Exploration Agencies (NEAs) |
| 10.                                                          | Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL)           |
| 11.                                                          | Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI)     |
| 12.                                                          | FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Limited (FAGMIL)       |
| 13.                                                          | Jharkhand Exploration and Mining Corporation Limited (JEMCL) |
| 14.                                                          | Hindustan Copper Limited(|HCL)                          |
| 15.                                                          | Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL)                   |
| 16.                                                          | Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation Limited (MPSMC)      |
| 17.                                                          | Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC)                      |
| 18.                                                          | Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TGMDC)      |
| Notified Private Exploration agencies (NPEAs)                | Notified Private Exploration agencies (NPEAs)                |
| 19.                                                          | M/s. Bhushilp Mines and Minerals Pvt. Ltd.                   |
| 20.                                                          | M/s. Critical Mineral Trackers                               |
| 21.                                                          | M/s. Eartnenviro Lab Private Limited                         |
| 22.                                                          | M/s. Engeotech Consultant                                    |
| 23.                                                          | M/s. Envirogreen Consultants (India) Private Limited         |
| 24.                                                          | M/s. GeoExpOre Private Limited                               |
| 25.                                                          | M/s. Gemcokati Exploration Private Limited                   |
| 26.                                                          | M/s. Geo Marine Solutions Private Limited                    |
| 27.                                                          | M/s. Geovale Services Pvt. Ltd.                              |
| 28.                                                          | M/s. Hindmetal Exploration Services Private Limited          |
| 29.                                                          | M/s. Kartikay Exploration and Mining Services Pvt. Ltd       |
| 30.                                                          | M/s. Mining Tech Consultancy Services Limited                |
| 31.                                                          | M/s. MMPL Private Limited                                    |
| 32.                                                          | M/s. Natural Resource Division-Tata Steel Limited            |
| 33.                                                          | M/s. Ocean Drilling and Exploration Pvt. Ltd.                |
| 34.                                                          | M/s. PRB Infraprojects Private Limited                       |
| 35.                                                          | M/s. Steiger Geoscience and Engineering Private Limited      |
| 36.                                                          | M/s. Vardan Environet LLP                                    |
| 37.                                                          | M/s. United Exploration India Private Limited                |
| 38.                                                          | M/s. Geo Exploration and Mining Solution                     |