**Executive Summary**
This document is a notification from the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, dated February 17, 2026. It announces the notification of M/s H K & Associates as a "Category 'A' Exploration Agency" under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The notification is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette and remains valid for five years or until the expiry/termination of accreditation, whichever is earlier.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agency Notification:**
* M/s H K & Associates is notified as a "Category 'A' Exploration Agency."
* This notification is made under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
* The notification is based on accreditation provided by the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training of the Quality Council of India.
* The notification aligns with guidelines for accredited private exploration agencies issued on August 12, 2021.
* **Operational Compliance:**
* M/s H K & Associates must conduct prospecting operations in compliance with specified guidelines.
* **Effective Date and Validity:**
* The notification is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
* It remains valid for five years from the notification date or until expiry/termination of accreditation, whichever occurs first.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: M/s H K & Associates**
**Impact:**
* Formally recognised as a Category A Exploration Agency
* Required to undertake exploration activities as per regulatory guidelines
**Action Required:**
* Comply with all specified guidelines for conducting prospecting operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The primary legislation governing the development and regulation of mines and minerals in India.
Ministry of Mines: The central government ministry responsible for the regulation and development of the mining sector.
M/s H K & Associates: Private exploration agency notified as 'Category A' exploration agency.
Order number M.VI-16/15/2021-Mines VI, dated the 12th August, 2021: Government of India, Ministry of Mines order, providing guidelines for notification of accredited private exploration agencies
New Delhi: Location where the notification was issued.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-19022026-270294
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D9H0x2x2x0 26-270294
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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.ं 842] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, फरवरी 17, 2026/माघ 28, 1947
No. 842] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026/MAGHA 28, 1947
खान मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 17 फरवरी, 2026
का.आ. 882(अ).— केन्द्रीय सरकार, खान और खजनि (जवकास और जवजनयमन) अजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का
67) की धारा 4 की उपधारा (1) के िसू रे परंतुक द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए और भारतीय गणु वत्ता पररषि के
राष्ट्रीय जिक्षा एव ंप्रजिक्षण प्रत्यायन बोडड द्वारा उपबंजधत प्रत्यायन के पररणामस्ट्वरूप, भारत सरकार, खान मंत्रालय के आिेि
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 “प्रवग ड ‘क’ खोि अजभकरण” के अधीन मैससड एच के एंड एसोजसएट्स को
अजधसूजचत करती ह।ै
2. उि अजभकरण, उि मागडििडक जसद्ांतों में जवजनर्िडष्ट ितों के अनुपालन म ेंपूवेक्षण संदियाएं कायाडजन्द्वत करेगा।
3. यह अजधसूचना रािपत्र म ें इसके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवत्तृ होगी और अजधसूचना की तारीख से पांच वष ड की
अवजध तक या उसके अवसान तक या अनिु त्त प्रत्यायन की समाजि तक, िो भी पूवडतर हो, जवजधमान्द्य रहगे ी।
[फा. स.ं एम.VI-16/22/2022-खान VI]
िकील आलम, आर्थडक सलाहकार
1213 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF MINES
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 17th February, 2026
S.O. 882(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 the Quality Council of India, the Central Government
hereby notifies M/s H K & Associates under “Category ‘A’ Exploration Agency”, 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. The said agency shall carry out prospecting operations in compliance with the conditions specified in the said
guidelines.
3. This notification shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette and shall remain
valid for a period of five years from the date of notification or till expiry or termination of the accreditation granted,
whichever is earlier.
[F. No. M.VI-16/22/2022-Mines VI]
SHAKIL ALAM, Economic Adviser
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.