**Executive Summary**
This Ministry of Mines notification, dated May 8, 2026, officially designates M/s HITTITES Exploration as a "Category ‘A’ Exploration Agency" under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The notification is based on accreditation provided by the Quality Council of India and authorizes the agency to conduct prospecting operations. This status is valid for five years from the date of publication or until the accreditation expires or is terminated, whichever is earlier.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Statutory Authority and Accreditation**
* The notification is issued under the powers conferred by the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
* The designation follows accreditation granted by the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training of the Quality Council of India.
**Agency Designation and Scope**
* M/s HITTITES Exploration is formally notified as a "Category ‘A’ Exploration Agency."
* The agency is authorized to carry out prospecting operations.
**Compliance and Guidelines**
* Operations must be conducted in strict compliance with the conditions specified in the guidelines for the notification of accredited private exploration agencies.
* These guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Mines via order number M.VI-16/15/2021-Mines VI, dated August 12, 2021.
**Validity and Timeline**
* The notification came into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (May 8, 2026).
* The authorization remains in effect for five years or until the termination/expiry of the agency's accreditation, whichever is earlier.
**Impact Analysis**
**M/s HITTITES Exploration**
**Impact**
The agency is now legally recognized as a Category ‘A’ Exploration Agency, permitting it to engage in official prospecting operations within the mineral sector.
**Action Required**
The agency must ensure all prospecting activities comply with the Ministry of Mines' 2021 guidelines and maintain its accreditation with the Quality Council of India to remain authorized.
**Ministry of Mines / Central Government**
**Impact**
The government expands its pool of accredited private exploration agencies to facilitate mineral development and regulation.
**Action Required**
The Ministry must monitor the agency’s compliance with statutory conditions and track the five-year validity period for eventual renewal or termination.
Key Entities Referenced
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The primary legislation under which the Central Government exercises powers to notify and regulate exploration agencies.
M/s HITTITES Exploration: The private entity officially notified as a 'Category A' Exploration Agency authorized to carry out prospecting operations.
National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET): The accrediting body under the Quality Council of India that provides the necessary certification for exploration agencies.
Ministry of Mines: The central regulatory ministry responsible for governing mineral resources and issuing guidelines for private exploration agencies.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-12052026-272458
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D2H0x5x2x0 26-272458
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2284] नई दिल्ली, िुििार, मई 8, 2026/ििै ाख 18, 1948
No. 2284] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026/VAISAKHA 18, 1948
खान मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 8 मई, 2026
का.आ. 2375(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, खान और खजनि (जिकास और जिजनयमन) अजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का
67) की धारा 4 की उपधारा (1) के िसू रे परंतुक द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, और राष्टर ीय जिक्षा एि ं प्रजिक्षण
प्रत् यायन बोडड, भारतीय गणु ित् ता पररषि द्वारा प्रिान दकए गए प्रत् यायन के पररणामस्ट् िरूप, मैससड जिरिट्स एक्स्स्ट््लोरेिन
को “प्रिगड ‘क’ खोि अजभकरण” के अधीन अजधसूजचत करती ि,ै िो भारत सरकार के खान मंत्रालय के आििे संख्या एम. VI-
16/15/2021-खान VI, तारीख 12 अगस्ट्त, 2021 द्वारा िारी प्रत्याजयत जनिी खोि अजभकरणों की अजधसूचना के जलए
मागडििडक जसद्ांतों के अनुसार जिजनर्िडष्ट ितों के अनुपालन म ेंपूिेक्षण संदियाए ं करेगा।
2. यि अजधसूचना रािपत्र म ें इसके प्रकािन की तारीख स े प्रिृत्त िोगी और ऐसी अजधसूचना की तारीख स े पांच िष ड
की अिजध तक या उसके अिसान तक या अनुित्त प्रत्यायन की समाजि तक, िो भी पूिडतर िो, प्रिृत रिगे ी।
[फा. स.ं एम.VI-16/22/2022-खान VI (भाग-I)]
कुलिीर ससंि यािि, संयुि सजचि
3312 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF MINES
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 8th May, 2026
S.O. 2375(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 4 of
the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), and consequent upon accreditation
provided by the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training of Quality Council of India, the Central
Government hereby notifies M/s HITTITES Exploration under “Category ‘A’ Exploration Agency”, which shall carry
out prospecting operations in compliance with the conditions specified as per the guidelines for notification of accredited
private exploration agencies issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Mines, vide order number M.VI-
16/15/2021-Mines VI, dated the 12th August, 2021.
2. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette and shall remain in
force for a period of five years from the date of such notification or till the expiry or termination of the accreditation
granted, whichever is earlier.
[F. No. M.VI-16/22/2022-Mines VI (Part-1)]
KULVEER SINGH YADAV, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.