Mineral Mandate: India Expands Exploration Globally

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has intensified its exploration of critical and strategic minerals, planning 230 projects for the financial year 2025–26, up from 195 projects in the previous year.

Supporting this momentum, the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) has approved 62 new exploration initiatives in the last financial year and an additional 36 for 2025–26, Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy informed the Rajya Sabha. The government is also bolstering the sector through amendments to the Mining Act, expanding the mandate of NMEDT to fund both domestic and international mineral exploration activities.

Further, 34 critical mineral blocks have been auctioned so far, including three with exploration licences (EL) for critical minerals. The newly introduced EL regime enables exploration license holders to receive a share of the auction premium, incentivising deeper and more advanced mineral exploration across the country.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.