Lok Sabha Question No. 598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Exploration activities for REEs
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane, Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †598

ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES FOR REEs

†598.  SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE: SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has initiated/approved any new geological surveys or exploration activities across various States of the country including Maharashtra for Rare Earch Elements (REEs) and other critical minerals;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  locations  identified,  progress  made  and findings of such explorations;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any policy or scheme to promote value addition and processing of critical minerals and REEs at local level in such States prior to their export;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the total amount of funds allocated and utilised for mineral exploration and value addition during the last three financial years across all States of the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, carries out mineral exploration activities across the country including Maharashtra for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other critical minerals. The yearwise total number of projects taken up by GSI for critical minerals including REEs is as below:

| Field Season                                      |   2021- 22 |   2022- 23 |   2023- 24 |   2024- 25 |   2025- 26 |
|---------------------------------------------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
| Total number of mineral exploration projects      |        251 |        319 |        360 |        435 |        462 |
| Total projects on critical and strategic minerals |        118 |        123 |        127 |        195 |        230 |
| Total number exploration projects on REEs         |         58 |         49 |         59 |         78 |         93 |

Since the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, GSI has augmented resources for REEs, Lithium, Nickel, Graphite, Vanadium, Cobalt, Tungsten, and other critical and strategic minerals specified in Part D of First Schedule to the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 across the country, including Maharashtra, and the resource augmented is given at Annexure-I.

Further, the  National  Mineral  Exploration  and  Development  Trust  (NMEDT)  has approved 177 mineral exploration projects for REEs and other critical minerals in the country which include 10 critical mineral projects in Maharashtra. Out of these 177 projects, 72 project have been completed and the details of projects where resource has been augmented are at Annexure-II.

(c)  &  (d):  The  Central  Government  has  launched  National  Critical  Mineral  Mission (NCMM) in January, 2025 with an aim to secure a long-term sustainable supply of critical minerals and strengthen country's critical mineral value chains encompassing all  stages  from  mineral  exploration  and  mining  to  beneficiation,  processing  and recycling through recovery from end-of-life products. Under NCMM, ₹500 crore has been earmarked for developing mineral processing parks using existing infrastructure.

(e): The total amount of funds allocated and utilised for mineral exploration and value addition by GSI and NMEDT during the last three years financial years i.e. from 202223 to 2024-25, are as follows:

| Agency   | Funds Allocated   | Funds Utilized   |
|----------|-------------------|------------------|
| GSI      | 196.05 crore      | 195.72 crore     |
| NMET     | 629.0 crore       | 310.0 crore      |

*****

Annexure-I State-wise details of cumulative resource augmented by GSI, at various cut-off and grades, since MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 for various

critical and strategic mineral commodities

| State             | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   | Mineral Commodity (in million tonne)   |
|-------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|                   | REE-RM                                 | Niobium                                | PGE                                    | Graphite                               | Glauconite- Potash                     | Phosphorite                            | Titanium                               | Gallium                                | Vanadium                               | Molybdenu                              | m Tungsten                             | Lithium                                | Nickel                                 | Cobalt                                 | Rubidium                               | Zirconium                              | Cadmium                                | Scandium                               | Tin                                    |
| Assam             | 30.51                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Andhra Pradesh    |                                        |                                        |                                        | 1.06                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 0.07                                   |                                        |                                        | 0.69                                   |                                        |                                        | 0.7                                    |                                        |                                        |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2.15                                   |                                        |                                        | 24.74                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 17.16                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Bihar             | 81.03                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        | 707.83                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 0.33                                   |
| Chhattisgarh      |                                        |                                        |                                        | 9.28                                   | 68.22                                  | 66.01                                  |                                        | 68.93                                  | 100.34                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Gujarat           | 318.99                                 | 282.38                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 19.93                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Haryana           |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 1.35                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 3.1                                    |
| Himachal Pradesh  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 35.23                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Jharkhand         | 0.0092                                 |                                        |                                        | 34.5                                   | 138.27                                 | 34.04                                  | 112.22                                 | 12.91                                  | 76.33                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Jammu &Kashmir    |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 6.5                                    |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Punjab            |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 199.44                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Karnataka         | 13.11                                  |                                        | 0.033                                  |                                        |                                        | 3.28                                   | 0.03                                   |                                        | 0.19                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        | 2.21                                   | 0.48                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Kerala            |                                        |                                        | 0.32                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        | 126.73                                 |                                        | 34.92                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        | 0.21                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 28.44                                  |                                        |
| Maharashtra       | 76.6                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Madhya Pradesh    |                                        |                                        |                                        | 15                                     | 23.91                                  |                                        |                                        | 28.75                                  | 38.67                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Nagaland          |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 0.73                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Odisha            |                                        |                                        |                                        | 7.42                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 0.37                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        | 2.15                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Rajasthan         | 83.59                                  | 40.189                                 |                                        |                                        | 395.53                                 |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        | 0.73                                   | 20.35                                  | 6.4                                    |                                        | 0.71                                   | 23                                     | 52.5                                   |                                        |                                        | 0.15                                   |
| Uttar Pradesh     | 0.342                                  |                                        |                                        |                                        | 9.66                                   |                                        | 12.69                                  | 2.54                                   | 2.72                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |
| Tamil Nadu        | 4.62                                   |                                        | 0.73                                   | 2.02                                   |                                        | 0.86                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        | 3.98                                   |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |                                        |

| Telangana   |   10.85 |     |    |    |      |     | 85.21   |     | 53.13   |     |      |      |     |     |    |      |     |       |     |
|-------------|---------|-----|----|----|------|-----|---------|-----|---------|-----|------|------|-----|-----|----|------|-----|-------|-----|
| West Bengal |    0.68 |     |    |    |      |     |         |     |         |     |      |      |     |     |    |      |     |       |     |
| Total       |  622    | 322 | 1  | 94 | 1542 | 104 | 336     | 113 | 379     | 4.7 | 21.7 | 12.9 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 23 | 52.5 | 0.7 | 28.44 | 3.5 |

## Annexure-II

Details of NMEDT approved and completed mineral exploration projects for Rare Earth Elements(REEs) and other critical minerals

|   Sl. No . | Year     | Name of the Block                                                                                                                                     | Commodity                              | State          |   Resourc e (Million Tonnes) |
|------------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------|------------------------------|
|          1 | 2016 -17 | Namakkal Block, District- Namakkal, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu                                                                                            | Nickel(Ni), Chromium(Cr) and Magnesite | Tamil Nadu     |                       60.35  |
|          2 | 2017 -18 | Mollen-Jopi-Ziphu and adjoining area, Naga Hills Ophiolite, District- Phek, Nagaland.                                                                 | Magnetite And Ni- Co-Cr                | Nagaland       |                        5.38  |
|          3 | 2017 -18 | Lakhasar Block, District- Bikaner, Rajasthan.                                                                                                         | Potash                                 | Rajasthan      |                     3294.38  |
|          4 | 2017 -18 | Sonrai rock phosphate deposit, Tehsil- Mehrauni, District- Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh.                                                                   | Phosphorite                            | Uttar Pradesh  |                       16.89  |
|          5 | 2019 -20 | Lakhasar-sub basin, North-Western part of Rajasthan, District- Bikaner, Rajasthan.                                                                    | Potash                                 | Rajasthan      |                       92.354 |
|          6 | 2020 -21 | Preliminary Exploration (G3 stage) for Potash in Bharusari North Block (10 sq. km.), Northwestern Part of Rajasthan, District: Hanumangarh, Rajasthan | Potash                                 | Rajasthan      |                        5.849 |
|          7 | 2020 -21 | Evaluation of Graphite Resources in already explored G2 manganese blocks of Tamiya, Rengali, Babja and Biarpalli, District- Balangir, Odisha.         | Graphite                               | Odisha         |                        1.447 |
|          8 | 2021 -22 | Reconnaissance survey for Manganese ore and Graphite in Larambha-Kanaital & Pudapadar-Bharatbahal Blocks, District: Balangir                          | Manganese Ore and Graphite             | Odisha         |                        2.03  |
|          9 | 2022 -23 | Preliminary exploration for Phosphorite in Pahadi Kalan-Gora Kalan Block, District Lalitpur                                                           | Phosphorite                            | Uttar Pradesh  |                       19.08  |
|         10 | 2022 -23 | Preliminary exploration for Graphite and Manganese in Salepali block, District Balangir                                                               | Graphite And Manganese                 | Odisha         |                        0.17  |
|         11 | 2022 -23 | Reconnaissance Survey (G4) for glauconitic sandstone in Pindra SW extension block (40.0 sq. km), District: Satna, Madhya Pradesh.                     | Potash                                 | Madhya Pradesh |                     1918     |
|         12 | 2021 -22 | Reconnaissance survey for PGE, Nickel, Cobalt and Gold in Rangapura Block, District:Hassan, Karnataka                                                 | Nickel, Cobalt, PGE, Gold              | Karnataka      |                        0.76  |
|         13 | 2022 -23 | Preliminary exploration for Manganese in Hardatal block (1.38 sq. km), District: Balangir, Odisha.                                                    | Manganese And Graphite                 | Odisha         |                        0.94  |
|         14 | 2022 -23 | Reconnaissance survey (G4) for Graphite in Thapen and Bazargarh                                                                                       | Graphite                               | Odisha         |                        0.125 |

|    | blocks (116.49 sq. km), District: Kalahandi, Odisha.                                                                                                                                 |                                            |                |         |
|----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------|---------|
| 15 | 2022 -23 Preliminary exploration (G3) for phosphorite in Kachaldara East block (5.60 sq. km), District: Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh.                                                      | Phosphorite                                | Madhya Pradesh |  0.38   |
| 16 | 2022 -23 Preliminary exploration (G3) for Potash in Lakhasar East block, Lakhasar-Sub Basin, North Western Part of Rajasthan, District: Bikaner, Rajasthan. (Block Area 7.16 sq. km) | Potash                                     | Rajasthan      | 24.76   |
| 17 | 2023 -24 Reconnaissance Survey (G-4 Stage) for Graphite in Ganacharpura Block (33.60 Sq. Km), Kolar District, Karnataka.                                                             | Graphite                                   | Karnataka      |  0.556  |
| 18 | 2023 -24 Preliminary Exploration (G-3 stage) for Manganese & Graphite in Kanaital Block (4.26 sq.km.), Balangir District, Odisha.                                                    | Manganese and Graphite                     | Odisha         |  4.56   |
| 19 | 2020 -21 Bharusari sub basin, North Western part of Rajasthan, district- Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.                                                                                     | Potash                                     | Rajasthan      | 12.839  |
| 20 | 2022 -23 Reconnaissance survey (G4) for Graphite in Lamer-Panga block (49.08 sq. km), District: Kalahandi, Odisha.                                                                   | Graphite                                   | Odisha         |  2.034  |
| 21 | 2023 -24 Preliminary Exploration (G-3 stage) for Manganese & Graphite in Larambha Block (2.57 sq.km.), Balangir District, Odisha                                                     | Manganese and Graphite                     | Odisha         |  1      |
| 22 | 2023 -24 Preliminary Exploration (G-3 Stage) for Bauxite, Titanium & Associated Minerals in Siskari Pat Bl ock (0.28 Sq km) District - Lohardaga, Jharkhand.                         | Bauxite, Titanium and Associated Minera ls | Jharkhand      | 20.9    |
| 23 | 2023 -24 Reconnaissance Survey (G-4 Stage) for Graphite in Dindo-Belkurta-Basera Block, District: Surguja, Chhattisgarh.                                                             | Graphite                                   | Chhattisgar h  |  0.103  |
| 24 | 2023 -24 Preliminary Exploration (G-3) for Potash in Dhankowali Dhani (North) Block (9.63 sq.km.), Satipura Sub Basin, Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan.                              | Potash                                     | Rajasthan      | 74.22   |
| 25 | 2023 -24 Preliminary Exploration (G-3 stage) for Rock Phosphate in Nimbli Block (2.70 sq.km.), Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan.                                                        | Rock Phosphate                             | Rajasthan      |  3.24   |
| 26 | 2023 -24 Preliminary Exploration (G3) for Vanadium and Titanium in Beach and Dune Sand of Talashil Block in                                                                          | Titanium and Vanadium                      | Maharashtr a   |  4.2115 |
| 27 | 2022 -23 Preliminary exploration (G3) for graphite in Lamer Panga Graphite Block-B (12.994 sq. km) Kalahandi district Odisha.                                                        | Graphite                                   | Odisha         |  1.304  |
| 28 | 2021 -22 Preliminary Exploration (G-3) for Manganese and Graphite in                                                                                                                 | Manganese and Graphite                     | Odisha         |  0.59   |

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|    |          | Bharatbahal Block (2.00 Sq. Km.) District- Balangir, Odisha                                                                                    |                                                     |               |           |
|----|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------|-----------|
| 29 | 2022 -23 | Preliminary exploration (G3) for Graphite in Lamer-Panga block A (13.99 sq. km), District: Kalahandi, Odisha.                                  | Graphite                                            | Odisha        |   3.098   |
| 30 | 2023 -24 | Reconnaissance Survey (G4 stage) for Kanapulisi Graphite Block (98.3 sq.km.), Rayagada District, Odisha.                                       | Graphite                                            | Odisha        |   0.176   |
| 31 | 2022 -23 | Preliminary exploration (G3) for graphite around Naringapanga block (S & W) (0.143 sq. km) block, District: Rayagada, Odisha.                  | Graphite                                            | Odisha        |   0.41343 |
| 32 | 2023 -24 | Preliminary Exploration ( G3 ) for vanadium and titanium in Dandi-Onjal- Surwada Block in Navasari and Valsad Districts, Gujarat               | Vanadium and Titanium                               | Gujarat       |  12.817   |
| 33 | 2023 -24 | Reconnaissance Survey (G4 Stage) for Graphite in Ranibandh Block, Bankura district, West Bengal                                                | Graphite                                            | West Bengal   |   1.38    |
| 34 | 2024 -25 | Reconnaissance survey (G-4) for Glauconitic sandstone in Parsada- Nawapara-Gurur area (146.27 sq km), Balod district, Chhattisgarh             | Glauconite                                          | Chhattisgar h | 104.53    |
| 35 | 2024 -25 | Preliminary Exploration Of Vanadium And Gallium Bearing Aluminous Laterite In Mundalli Block (4.754 Sq Km), Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka | Aluminous Laterite And Associated Critical Elements | Karnataka     |  54.263   |