**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 479 regarding mining activities in Barmer and Jaisalmer, answered on July 23, 2025. It outlines the existing mining policy framework under the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and details the findings of geological surveys conducted in the specified regions, including the identification of rare earth elements and other minerals. It also addresses gravel mining policies and lease allocations.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Legislative Framework:**
* The MMDR Act, 1957, serves as the primary legislation for regulating mines and mineral development.
* The Act includes provisions for mineral classification, concession areas, concession periods, royalties, auctions, and the powers of central and state governments to make rules.
* **Geological Surveys and Findings (Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Balotra Districts):**
* The Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted 47 exploration projects from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* Significant resources identified:
* Limestone: 5021.1 million tonnes in Jaisalmer.
* Rare Earth Elements: 81.8 million tonnes in Barmer.
* Niobium: 67.6 million tonnes in Barmer.
* Niobium and Tantalum: 6.8 million tonnes in Barmer.
* Rubidium: 19 million tonnes in Barmer.
* Zirconium: 52.5 million tonnes in Barmer.
* Hafnium: 0.3 million tonnes in Barmer.
* The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has explored the Siwana Ring Complex in Balotra for rare earth elements.
* AMD submitted the geological report of Bhatikhera area, Balotra district to the Central Government and to Government of Rajasthan.
* **Mining and Auctioning:**
* The Central Government auctions mineral concessions for 24 critical and strategic minerals listed in Part D of the First Schedule to the MMDR Act.
* The Bhatikhera block is classified as a critical mineral block.
* **Gravel Mining Policy:**
* Gravel is classified as a minor mineral under Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act.
* State governments are empowered under Section 15 of the MMDR Act to regulate the grant of leases for minor minerals.
* State governments have framed Minor Mineral Concession Rules.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Central Government:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for auctioning mineral concessions for critical and strategic minerals and notifying mineral blocks for auction. Receives geological reports for critical mineral blocks.
* *Action Required:* Continue notifying mineral blocks for auction and managing the auction process for critical minerals.
* **State Governments (Specifically Rajasthan):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for regulating the grant of quarry leases for minor minerals like gravel, according to their Minor Mineral Concession Rules. Receives geological reports for critical mineral blocks.
* *Action Required:* Implement and enforce Minor Mineral Concession Rules for gravel and other minor minerals.
* **Ministry of Mines:**
* *Impact:* Oversees the geological surveys conducted by the GSI and the overall implementation of the MMDR Act.
* *Action Required:* Continue supporting geological surveys and ensuring compliance with the MMDR Act.
* **Geological Survey of India (GSI):**
* *Impact:* Conducts mineral exploration projects in the specified regions.
* *Action Required:* Continue exploration activities and reporting findings to the Ministry of Mines.
* **Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD):**
* *Impact:* Conducts detailed exploration for Rare Earth Elements and associated elements
* *Action Required:* Continue exploration activities and reporting findings to the Central Government and to Government of Rajasthan.
* **Mining Companies/Potential Investors:**
* *Impact:* Directly affected by the auctioning process for mineral concessions and the regulations governing mining operations.
* *Action Required:* Participate in auctions for mineral blocks and comply with all applicable mining regulations.
* **Local Communities (Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Balotra Districts):**
* *Impact:* Potentially affected by mining activities, including environmental and socio-economic impacts.
* *Action Required:* Engage with relevant authorities and mining companies to address any concerns related to mining operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957: Umbrella legislation for regulation of mines and mineral development in India.
Geological Survey of India: An attached office of Ministry of Mines, responsible for mineral exploration.
Barmer, Rajasthan: District in Rajasthan where mineral exploration projects were undertaken and resources of Rare Earth Elements, Niobium, Rubidium, Zirconium and Hafnium were established.
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: District in Rajasthan where mineral exploration projects were undertaken and resources of Limestone were established.
Balotra, Rajasthan: District in Rajasthan where detailed exploration was undertaken in Siwana Ring Complex for Rare Earth Elements and associated elements.
Department of Atomic Energy: The organisation, along with its unit AMD, involved in detailed exploration in Balotra district for Rare Earth Elements and associated elements.
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research: A unit of the Department of Atomic Energy that undertook detailed exploration in Siwana Ring Complex, Balotra district for Rare Earth Elements and associated elements.
Gravel Mining Policy: Policy related to the regulation and allocation of gravel mining leases, governed by State Governments.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †479
ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
MINING OF RARE MINERAL IN BARMER AND JAISALMER
†479. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the salient features of the mining policy of the country and the mechanisms in place
to implement the same along with the details thereof;
(b) whether any mineral elements that have been identified during the geological
survey in Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the proposed action
plan along with the details thereof;
(c) whether as per the survey conducted by the Land Department sixteen rare minerals
including monazite, Uranium, Thorium, that have been found in Siwana, Mokalsar,
Sindhari area of Balotara district which are very important from economic and strategic
point of view;
(d) whether the Government has any action plan for mining in said identified mineral
blocks;
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the details of the gravel mining policy and the current status of allocation of gravel
mining leases in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts along with the details of progress and
plan to start mining operations?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): The umbrella legislation for regulation of mines and mineral development is
provided in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR
Act). The Act contains provisions for classification of minerals, maximum area for
which mineral concession may be granted, periods for which a mineral concession
may be granted, royalties in respect of mining leases, grant of mineral concessions
through auction, power of Central Government to make Rules in respect of minerals,
power of State Governments to make Rules in respect of minor minerals, reservation
of areas for purposes of conservation etc.
(b) to (e): The Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines,
has undertaken 47 exploration projects for various mineral commodities in Barmer,Jaisalmer and Balotra (formerly part of Barmer district) districts of Rajasthan during
2021-22 and 2025-26.
As an outcome of the mineral exploration programmes, GSI has established resources
of Limestone (5021.1 million tonnes) in Jaisalmer and resources of Rare Earth
Elements (81.8 million tonnes), Niobium (67.6 million tonnes), Niobium and Tantalum
(6.8 million tonnes), Rubidium (19 million tonnes), Zirconium (52.5 million tonnes) and
Hafnium (0.3 million tonnes) in Barmer districts of Rajasthan.
Further, as per information provided by Department of Atomic Energy, Atomic Minerals
Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has undertaken detailed exploration
in Siwana Ring Complex, Balotra district for Rare Earth Elements and associated
elements. The AMD has submitted the geological report of Bhatikhera area, Balotra
district to the Central Government and to Government of Rajasthan.
The auction for grant of mineral concession in respect of 24 critical and strategic
minerals listed in the Part-D of the First Schedule to the MMDR Act is done by the
Central Government. The Bhatikhera block is a critical mineral block. The Central
Government notifies mineral blocks of critical minerals for auction from time to time.
(f): Gravel is a minor mineral as per Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act. As per Section 15
of the MMDR Act, the State Governments are empowered to make rules for regulating
the grant of quarry leases, mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of
minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith. Accordingly, the respective
States Governments have framed the Minor Mineral Concession Rules.
*****