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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION No. †*528
ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026
FUNDS AND PROJECT OUTCOMES UNDER NMEDT
†*528: SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA
SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the total amount of funds collected under the National Mineral Exploration and
Development Trust (NMEDT) along with the amount sanctioned for mineral exploration
projects during the last five years, year-wise;
(b) the number of mineral exploration projects approved under the NMEDT during the
last five years along with their distribution, State and project-wise including
Chhattisgarh and Karnataka;
(c) whether any projects are under implementation in Dakshin Kannada district and if
so, the details thereof along with their current status;
(d) the separate number of projects completed under progress and at different stages
of exploration as well;
(e) the agencies and institutions currently engaged in carrying out exploration activities
under NMEDT including the participation of private exploration agencies;
(f) the number of mineral blocks identified or advanced to the detailed exploration
stage through NMEDT-supported projects in the country particularly in Karnataka; and
(g) the number of such blocks subsequently made available for auction or further
development?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
*****THE STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. +*528 REGARDING ‘FUNDS AND PROJECT OUTCOMES UNDER
NMEDT’ ASKED BY SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA AND SHRI KALI
CHARAN SINGH, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR REPLY ON 01ST APRIL 2026.
a. Year-wise detail of fund collected under the National Mineral Exploration and
Development Trust (NMEDT) along with the amount sanctioned for mineral
exploration projects during last five years (from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26)
is given at Annexure 1.
b. Details of mineral exploration projects approved under NMEDT during last 5
years (State-wise), including Chhattisgarh and Karnataka are given at
Annexure 2.
Details of exploration projects are available at https://nmet.gov.in/.
c. 02 Baseline survey projects of Geological Survey of India under the National
Aero-geophysical Mapping Programme in Block 7 (in Belthangady,
Moodubidire & Mulki talukas) and Block 16 (in Mangaluru, Moodabidri, Mulki,
Ullala, Bantwala, Belthangady, Puttur, Sullia & Kadaba talukas) of Dakshin
Kannada district funded under NMEDT have been taken up.
d. 570 mineral exploration projects in G1, G2, G3, G4 and RMT stage have been
taken up, out of which 302 projects have been completed.
e. List of agencies, including Notified Private Exploration Agencies, engaged in
exploration activities under NMEDT is given at Annexure 3.
f. & (g) 40 NMEDT funded projects have been upgraded, including 23 projects
to G3 stage and 17 projects to G2 stage. This includes 01 project upgraded
to G2 stage in Karnataka. Out of these, 08 projects were subsequently made
available for auction, from which 11 blocks were carved out and successfully
auctioned.Annexure 1
Detail of fund collected under NMEDT along with the amount sanctioned for
mineral exploration projects during last five years
Sl. No. Financial Year Fund Collected Amount Sanctioned
(₹ in Crore) (₹ in Crore)
1 2021-22 885.60 84.39
2 2022-23 934.72 168.96
3 2023-24 950.97 148.36
4 2024-25 1,001.42 306.16
5 2025-26 1,055.45 375.43
Total 4,828.16 1,083.30Annexure 2
State/UT -wise details of mineral exploration projects approved under
NMEDT during last 5 years (from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26)
Sl. No. State No. of Projects
1 Andhra Pradesh 5
2 Arunachal Pradesh 4
3 Assam 15
4 Chhattisgarh 28
5 Gujarat 49
6 Jammu and Kashmir 1
7 Jharkhand 28
8 Karnataka 29
9 Kerala 4
10 Ladakh 1
11 Madhya Pradesh 68
12 Maharashtra 37
13 Manipur 3
14 Meghalaya 2
15 Nagaland 2
16 Odisha 43
17 Punjab 2
18 Rajasthan 44
19 Sikkim 1
20 Tamil Nadu 14
21 Telangana 22
22 Uttar Pradesh 6
23 Uttarakhand 9
24 West Bengal 4
Total 421Annexure 3
List of Exploration Agencies currently engaged in carrying out exploration
activities under NMEDT
STATE DGM/ DMG
1. Assam
2. Chhattisgarh
3. Gujarat
4. Karnataka
5. Maharashtra
6. Meghalaya
7. Nagaland
8. Odisha
9. Uttar Pradesh
Exploration Agency (EA)/Notified Exploration Agencies (NEAs)
10. Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL)
11. Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI)
12. FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Limited (FAGMIL)
13. Jharkhand Exploration and Mining Corporation Limited (JEMCL)
14. Hindustan Copper Limited(|HCL)
15. Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL)
16. Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation Limited (MPSMC)
17. Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC)
18. Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TGMDC)
Notified Private Exploration agencies (NPEAs)
19. M/s. Bhushilp Mines and Minerals Pvt. Ltd.
20. M/s. Critical Mineral Trackers
21. M/s. Eartnenviro Lab Private Limited
22. M/s. Engeotech Consultant
23. M/s. Envirogreen Consultants (India) Private Limited
24. M/s. GeoExpOre Private Limited
25. M/s. Gemcokati Exploration Private Limited
26. M/s. Geo Marine Solutions Private Limited
27. M/s. Geovale Services Pvt. Ltd.
28. M/s. Hindmetal Exploration Services Private Limited
29. M/s. Kartikay Exploration and Mining Services Pvt. Ltd
30. M/s. Mining Tech Consultancy Services Limited
31. M/s. MMPL Private Limited
32. M/s. Natural Resource Division-Tata Steel Limited
33. M/s. Ocean Drilling and Exploration Pvt. Ltd.
34. M/s. PRB Infraprojects Private Limited
35. M/s. Steiger Geoscience and Engineering Private Limited
36. M/s. Vardan Environet LLP
37. M/s. United Exploration India Private Limited
38. M/s. Geo Exploration and Mining Solution