Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy directs agencies to fast-track pending mining and exploration projects, with focus on critical minerals

📌 Summary:

• Union Minister for Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy directed all mining and exploration agencies to fast-track pending projects and adopt a mission-mode approach to strengthen India's mineral security
• He chaired high-level review meetings in Bengaluru with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Remote Sensing & Aerial Survey (RSAS) division
• Focus areas: accelerating mineral exploration, strengthening scientific and technological capabilities, promoting sustainable mining, and aligning institutional efforts with Viksit Bharat 2047
• The review covered critical and strategic minerals — Rare Earth Elements (REE), Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Tungsten, Vanadium and Platinum Group Elements (PGE)
• GSI reported exploration outcomes in Karnataka and Goa (gold, copper, PGE, nickel and cobalt-bearing zones) and resource augmentation following reforms under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015; it outlined a five-year roadmap using AI/ML-enabled mineral targeting covering nearly 48,000 sq km
• IBM presented progress under the National Critical Mineral Mission, including critical mineral enrichment and recovery from existing mining ecosystems
• The RSAS division reported that over 6.5 lakh sq km has been covered under the National Aerogeophysical Mapping Programme (NAGMP), generating over 200 exploration projects

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (Indian Economy) — mineral security, critical minerals, mining sector reforms and self-reliance in resources essential for clean energy and industry.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Agencies under the Ministry of Mines include GSI, NIRM, IBM and the RSAS division
• Critical and strategic minerals reviewed: REE, Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Tungsten, Vanadium and PGE
• The MMDR Amendment Act was passed in 2015
• NAGMP = National Aerogeophysical Mapping Programme; over 6.5 lakh sq km has been covered

🔑 Key Term: Critical minerals — minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements that are essential for economic and national security, especially for clean energy, electronics and defence, and whose supply is vulnerable to disruption.