3-Aug-2022: National Mineral Exploration Trust

The MMDR Act, 1957 was amended in March 2021 and now the amended Act mandates NMET as a nonprofit autonomous body. The autonomy of functioning will give the NMET the necessary flexibility to achieve its desired objectives.

Ministry of Mines has received approval from Department of Expenditure (DoE) to create 12 new posts for NMET.

Ministry of Mines has taken the following steps to boost the mineral exploration in the country-

1. The MMDR Act 1957 was amended in March 2021 to make provision for funding of private exploration agencies from National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). So far, nine agencies have been notified under the second proviso to Section 4(1) of the MMDR Act.
2. Geological Survey of India has given thrust on Pan-India mapping projects like National Geochemical Mapping, National Geophysical Mapping, National Aero-Geophysical Mapping and Specialized Thematic Mapping programmes which are expected to contribute immensely to delineate new potential areas for further systematic mineral exploration.
3. OGP area has been updated with incorporation of more baseline and exploration data and has been increased to 6.88 lakh sq.km for 18 minerals from a previous figure of 5.71 lakh sq.km for 10 minerals.
4. Following MEMC Amendment Rules 2021, 252 Geological Memorandums have been handed over to the concerned State Governments for auctioning as composite licence.
5. NMET has streamlined the process of sanction and release of funds for fast implementation of exploration projects. A Scheme of partial reimbursement of exploration expenses for Composite Licenses (CL) holders has been formulated for exploration of certain minerals. NMET provides financial assistance for strengthening of exploration infrastructure of Central Government organizations & State DGMs/DMGs.

25-Jul-2022: Status of National Mineral Exploration Trust

The MMDR Act, 1957 was amended in March 2021 and now the amended Act mandates NMET as a nonprofit autonomous body. The autonomy of functioning will give the NMET the necessary flexibility to achieve its desired objectives.

Ministry of Mines has received approval from Department of Expenditure (DoE) to create 12 new posts for NMET.

Ministry of Mines has taken the following steps to boost the mineral exploration in the country-

1. The MMDR Act 1957 was amended in March 2021 to make provision for funding of private exploration agencies from National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). So far, nine agencies have been notified under the second proviso to Section 4(1) of the MMDR Act.
2. Geological Survey of India has given thrust on Pan-India mapping projects like National Geochemical Mapping, National Geophysical Mapping, National Aero-Geophysical Mapping and Specialized Thematic Mapping programmes which are expected to contribute immensely to delineate new potential areas for further systematic mineral exploration.
3. OGP area has been updated with incorporation of more baseline and exploration data and has been increased to 6.88 lakh sq.km for 18 minerals from a previous figure of 5.71 lakh sq.km for 10 minerals.
4. Following MEMC Amendment Rules 2021, 252 Geological Memorandums have been handed over to the concerned State Governments for auctioning as composite licence.
5. NMET has streamlined the process of sanction and release of funds for fast implementation of exploration projects. A Scheme of partial reimbursement of exploration expenses for Composite Licenses (CL) holders has been formulated for exploration of certain minerals. NMET provides financial assistance for strengthening of exploration infrastructure of Central Government organizations & State DGMs/DMGs.

11-Apr-2022: Shri Pralhad Joshi to Chair Crucial Meeting of National Mineral Exploration Trust

Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi will be chairing the fourth Governing Body meeting of National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to be held here on 13th April, 2022. The meeting will be attended by Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Coal, Mines and Railways shri Raosaheb Patil Danve and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh who are members of the governing body.

The governing body also has six ministers of State Governments holding charge of Mines and Geology from the states of Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, who are also expected to attend the meeting.

The 4th governing body meeting will be held to review the working of NMET and also to provide directions for further momentum in mineral exploration keeping in view the increasing requirement of the strategic and critical minerals in the country. It is expected that the governing body will contemplate and finalise crucial policy decisions regarding financial incentives to State Governments to carry out mineral exploration as well as involvement of the private sector in exploration activities.

During the financial year 2021-22, NMET has performed exceedingly well in terms of sanctions of projects and providing funds to exploration agencies, surpassing the performance of previous years. The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) was established in 2015 with an objective to increase mineral exploration in the country. The Governing Body (GB) of NMET lays down the broad policy framework for the functioning of the Trust and to review its working.

31-Jul-2021: Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi Calls for Restructuring National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) as Autonomous Body

Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi has urged the officials of the Ministry of Mines to bring about further momentum in restructuring   the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) as  an autonomous body. He was addressing the third Governing Body  meeting of the Trust here today. The Minister pointed out that in a resource rich country like India all efforts should be made to give further fillip to mineral exploration so that imports can be curtailed. Shri Joshi said that stringent conditions, if any, in the field of mineral exploration needs to be removed in order to attract more firms to this sector.

Chairing the Governing Body meeting the Minister stressed upon the need to focus on exploration of gold and rare earths along with other segments of India’s mineral exploration efforts.  Shri Pralhad Joshi underscored the need to streamline the system of extending financial assistance to states, especially the mineral rich states for enhanced exploration. Creation of an atmosphere of competition among states to step up exploration is also needed, the Minister pointed out. The interaction with states to encourage  mining exploration needs to be more frequent and result oriented, Minister Joshi added.

The GB meeting was held for a periodical review and policy directions of NMET. The Minister Shri Joshi informed the meeting  that mineral exploration is an integrated process and requires huge fund and NMET fund contribution was meant for exploration activities in the country. He also advised state government agencies to come out with detailed and concrete plans for regional exploration of minerals.

The meeting was attended by  Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas,  Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Coal, Mines and Railways Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve,  Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh.   Minister of Mineral Resources Department of Govt.  of Madhya Pradesh  Shri Brajendra Pratap Singh and  Minister of Mines and Mineral of Govt, of Assam Shri Jogen Mohan also participated in the crucial meeting.                                                                                               

During the meeting, held for periodical reviews and policy directions of NMET, Secretary, Shri Alok Tandon and Joint Secretary  Shri Upendra C Joshi of the Ministry of Mines informed the members of the Governing Body about the reforms being initiated, the number of projects and the amount sanctioned for mineral exploration in the country recently.

The Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 as amended in 2015, has introduced transparent & competitive auction process for grant of mineral concessions. It also provided for establishment of National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to give impetus to the mineral exploration activities. The holders of Mining Lease and Prospecting Licence-cum-Mining Lease make payments equivalent to 2% of royalty, for minerals under second schedule of the Act, as NMET contribution simultaneously with payments of the royalty.

National mineral exploration Trust (NMET) is a body working to realize the mineral potential of the country in terms of mining activity and contribute commensurately to the growth of national economy. For this purpose, a number of steps have been initiated to ensure that the national economy receives the rightful contribution from its geological wealth. The mining industry in the country is undergoing reforms introduced through investor friendly and transformative interventions of the Government.

The NMET fund is being utilized to undertaking studies for mineral development; regional and detailed exploration with special emphasis to strategic and critical minerals; aerial geophysical survey of obvious geological potential (OGP) and adjoining areas of India; sustainable mining with adoption of advanced scientific and technological practices and mineral extraction metallurgy. It also facilitates exploration activities in such a manner that areas explored can be taken up for grant of mineral concessions in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

28-Jul-2021: National Mineral Exploration Trust -  Enhancing Mineral Exploration Activities In The Country.

National Mineral Exploration Trust has been set up by the Central Government in pursuance of powers conferred by Section 9C (1) of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 vide gazette notification dated 14th August 2015 to enhance mineral exploration activities in the country.

The National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules were notified on 14th August, 2015, which were subsequently amended and National Mineral Exploration Trust (Amendment) Rules, 2018 were notified on 7th March, 2018.

Now, as per the recent amendment in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act,2021, vide Notification no-18(E) dated 28th March, 2021, NMET has to be established as a “non-profit Autonomous Body”.

The objective of the trust is to use the accrued funds for taking up regional and detailed exploration, for coal and non-coal minerals, by giving priority to strategic and critical minerals, funding special studies & projects designed to identify, explore, extract, beneficiate and refine deep seated or concealed mineral deposit, facilitate geophysical, ground and aerial survey and geochemical survey of Obvious Geological Potential areas and rest of India, organizing capacity building programmes to raise technical capability of personnel engaged in or to be engaged in exploration and using Trust Fund for purposes necessary or expedient in the interest of conservation, development and exploitation of mineral resources of India.

Till date, DMFs have been set up in 600 districts of 22 States.

The MMDR Act, 1957 was amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, notified on 27th March, 2015 and which came into effect from 12th January, 2015. To implement the provisions of said Act, the following rules have been made under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015:

1. The Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015.
2. The Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015.
3. The Mineral (Non-exclusive Reconnaissance Permits) Rules, 2015.
4. The National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2015.
5. The Mines and Minerals (Contribution to District Mineral Foundation) Rules, 2015.
6. The Mineral (Mining by Government Company) Rules, 2015.
7. The Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbon Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016.
8. Minerals (Transfer of Mining Lease Granted Otherwise than through Auction for Captive Purpose) Rules, 2016.
9. The Atomic Mineral Concession Rules, 2016.
10. Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017.