Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi has informed that The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) is funding regional and detailed exploration for augmenting the mineral resource of the country.
NMET, so far, has approved total of 200 mineral exploration projects for different commodities, out of which 117 projects have been completed. The Notified Exploration Agencies have carried out the mineral exploration and submitted Geological report along with resource estimation in the following blocks:
| S. No. | Block | State | Mineral | Resource |
| 1 | Nahardih-Maghaipur Block Tehsil- Tilda, District- Raipur | Chhattisgarh | Limestone | 110 mt cement grade. |
| 2 | Udagi Block, Chittarpur
Taluk, District- Kalaburagi |
Karnataka | Limestone | 385.35 MT Cement Grade with 45.66% CaO 74.06 MT
Blendable Grade with 42.86% CaO |
| 3 | Diggoan Block, Chittarpur Taluk, District- Kalaburagi | Karnataka | Limestone | 530.80 MT Cement Grade with 45.45% CaO; 281.87 MT
Blendable Grade with 41.30-% CaO |
| 4 | Ramsthan- Ghunchihai – Jamodi- Mahanna Part-A , District- Satna | Madhya
Pradesh |
Limestone | 209.77 MT |
| 5 | Naubasta-Kolad Block,
Tehsil- Nagod, District- Satna |
Madhya
Pradesh |
Limestone | 166.05 MT with average grade of 44.77% CaO |
| 6 | Jamodi Mahanna (Part-B) Block, Tehsil
Raghurajnagar, District Satna |
Madhya
Pradesh |
Limestone | 90.29 MT Cement grade with 44.18% Cao |
| 7 | Purheibahal Block , District Sundargarh | Odisha | Iron | 42.12 MT |
| 8 | Chandiposhi Block, District Sundargarh | Odisha | Iron | 42.36 MT |
| 9 | Jumka-Pathriposhi Block, District- Sundargarh | Odisha | Iron | 140.28 MT |
| 10 | Tamiya Block, District
Bolangir |
Odisha | Manganese | 0.703 MT with avg. grade of 23.04% Mn |
| 11 | Rengali Block, District
Bolangir |
Odisha | Manganese | 0.328 MT with 21.37% Mn |
| 12 | Gothra-Parasrampura East Block , Tehsil- Nawalgarh, District- Jhunjhunu | Rajasthan | Limestone | 160.757 MT with 48.46% CaO. |
| 13 | Gothra-Parasrampura West Block , Tehsil- Nawalgarh, District- Jhunjhunu | Rajasthan | Limestone | 158.715 MT with 49.54% CaO |
| 14 | Lakhasar Block, District
Bikaner |
Rajasthan | Potash | 73.83 MT 4.65% K at 3% cut off |
| 15 | Namakkal Block, District Namakkal, Perambalur | Tamil Nadu | Dunite | 60.35 MT on net Dunite with 35.22% MgO |
| 16 | Sultanpur Block,
Mattampally-Mandal, District Suryapet |
Telangana | Limestone | 80.21 MT with 47.10% CaO |
| 17 | Pasupulabodu Block,
Nereducherla Mandal, District- Suryapet |
Telangana | Limestone | 41.68 MT, CaO 46.39% |
| 18 | Saidulanama Block,
Nereducherla Mandal, District- Suryapet |
Telangana | Limestone | 71.86 MT with 46.79% CaO |
| 19 | Mandri-Panchala Tah
Ramtek, Dist-Nagpur |
Maharashtra | Manganese | 0.213 MT with 23.25% Mn |
No proposal for mineral exploration in Western Uttar Pradesh is pending as on date. (d) Not Applicable
National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) is not mandated to undertake the welfare of the families of mining workers.
The Ministry of Mines has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 through MMDR Amendment Act, 2021 with effect from 28.03.2021. The objectives of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2021 inter alia are increasing mineral production and time bound operationalisation of mines, increasing employment and investment in the mining sector, maintaining continuity in mining operations after change of lessee and increasing the pace of exploration and auction of mineral resources. These reforms will ensure self-sufficiency in mineral requirement of the country. The subordinate rules have also been amended after amendment in the Act.
