G. Kishan Reddy Calls for Accelerated Mineral Exploration
The 7th Governing Body meeting of the National Mineral Exploration & Development Trust (NMEDT) was presided over by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in the esteemed company of Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh at GPOA-3, Netaji Nagar, New Delhi.
A thorough evaluation of NMEDT's performance for the fiscal year 2025-26 was undertaken. The government instructed all states to hasten current exploration initiatives, streamline approval processes, and enhance cooperation to substantially decrease the time between exploration and auction, with the goal of strengthening the country's strategic minerals security in light of interruptions in the global supply chain.
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The Minister of Mines, G Kishan Reddy, emphasized the importance of embracing advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, utilizing drones for surveys, and implementing contemporary beneficiation techniques to enhance efficiency and success rates in mineral exploration.
The importance of focusing on the exploration of critical minerals was stressed by Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy, highlighting its significance in achieving self-reliance in India's economic growth, energy transition, and technological advancement. He instructed all States to accelerate current exploration projects, streamline approval processes, and enhance coordination in order to drastically reduce the timeline from exploration to auction.
He emphasized the importance of incorporating sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, drone-based surveys, and modern beneficiation techniques to improve the efficiency and success rates of mineral discovery. Additionally, the Minister underscored the significance of involving startups, private exploration agencies, and innovation-driven institutions in alignment with the Startup India initiative to introduce fresh ideas and innovative solutions into the exploration sector.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy emphasized the crucial role of coordinated efforts, ongoing surveillance, and efficient follow-up procedures in ensuring the prompt implementation of exploration initiatives.
He stressed the significance of incorporating scientific establishments and utilizing cutting-edge technologies in the mineral exploration process to expedite results.
In the fiscal year 2025-26, approvals were granted for 76 projects aimed at the exploration of critical minerals. To date, 45 blocks of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMEDT) have been successfully auctioned, with 10 of these blocks designated for critical mineral extraction.
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Furthermore, there has been a notable rise in involvement from the private sector, thanks to various initiatives designed to encourage participation. The overarching goal of these reforms is to enhance India's mineral exploration framework, secure the access to vital minerals, expedite project implementation, encourage private and startup involvement, embrace contemporary technologies, and further sustainable mineral development within the nation.
In 2025, as a component of the revisions brought about by the amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) was rebranded as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) starting from 1 September 2025.
The NMEDT's scope has been broadened to encompass financing for exploration projects in offshore regions of India, as well as exploration endeavors and mine development both within and beyond the borders of India.
The NMEDT has officially released a set of guidelines pertaining to the financing of pilot initiatives aimed at extracting vital minerals from various sources such as overburden, tailings, fly ash, and red mud on the 14th of November, 2025. These guidelines offer financial backing of up to Rs.20 crore per project, contingent upon an industry partner's mandatory contribution of at least 10 percent.
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The Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) has been authorized to undertake a pilot project for the creation of a pilot line dedicated to the separation of Rare Earth Minerals from various feedstocks. NMEDT is currently aiding in the funding of specialized research to pinpoint critical minerals by conducting geochemical assessments on samples taken from various mine sites, as well as tailings, deposits, and slag residues.
Support is also being extended to the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to assess the viability of mineral recovery. These efforts are in accordance with the National Tailings Policy of 2025, emphasizing sustainability, efficient use of resources, and the circular utilization of minerals. NMEDT is advocating for the adoption of cutting-edge exploration technologies, including drone-based surveys, AI/ML applications, and state-of-the-art beneficiation techniques to enhance the accuracy of data and increase the success rates of discovery. This initiative aims to revamp India's mineral exploration ecosystem.