G Kishan Reddy pushes for mission mode mining of critical mineral projects
New Delhi, May 25
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Monday directed all mining and exploration agencies under the Ministry to accelerate pending projects and adopt a mission-mode approach aimed at strengthening India's mineral security and advancing its long-term strategic growth goals.
Chairing a series of high-level review meetings in Bengaluru with senior officials from the Geological Survey of India, Indian Bureau of Mines, National Institute of Rock Mechanics and the Remote Sensing & Aerial Survey (RSAS) division, the Minister reviewed ongoing exploration work, technological upgrades and project execution timelines across critical mineral sectors.
The meetings focused on accelerating exploration of strategic minerals such as Rare Earth Elements (REE), lithium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium and platinum group elements, which are considered crucial for India's clean energy transition, electronics manufacturing and defence supply chains.
Emphasising urgency and accountability, Reddy said all agencies must shift to outcome-driven functioning. "All organisations must fast-track pending projects and ensure that technology, transparency and efficiency become the foundation of every institutional process. The people of India and the Government of India expect speed, accountability and visible outcomes from every agency working in this sector," he said.
Highlighting the broader national objective, he added: "Under the leadership and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, India is moving decisively towards becoming a self-reliant and globally competitive economy. The mining and exploration sector has a critical role in securing India's future growth, industrial expansion and strategic mineral security."
The Minister also underlined the need for coordinated execution with fixed timelines and measurable outcomes, stressing that exploration agencies must work in mission mode to reduce delays and improve efficiency in mineral discovery and development.
The Geological Survey of India presented updates on significant findings in Karnataka and Goa, including potential reserves of gold, copper, nickel and cobalt, along with its five-year roadmap covering large-scale mapping and AI-enabled exploration over nearly 48,000 sq. km.
The National Institute of Rock Mechanics showcased its role in supporting infrastructure and mining safety projects, including tunnelling, metro rail, hydropower and seismic monitoring systems, while the Indian Bureau of Mines highlighted initiatives in sustainable mining, scientific mine closure and critical mineral recovery under national missions.
The RSAS division also reported progress under the National Aerogeophysical Mapping Programme, covering over 6.5 lakh sq. km using hyperspectral and airborne geophysical surveys, enabling more than 200 exploration projects.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the government pushing for mineral security, but I hope environmental clearances and local community consultations are not sidelined in this 'mission mode'. Mining in ecologically sensitive areas like the Western Ghats (which includes parts of Karnataka and Goa mentioned here) has caused serious damage in the past. Sustainable mining must be the watchword, not just speed.
This is a very strategic move. With China controlling most of the rare earth element supply chain, India needs to develop its own capabilities urgently. The National Institute of Rock Mechanics doing safety work for tunnelling and hydropower is also crucial. But we need to see concrete timelines and budgets, not just review meetings.
As someone who works in the mining sector, I appreciate the push for technology adoption - hyperspectral surveys and AI mapping are game changers. But the real challenge is bureaucratic delays at the state level for clearances. Hope the center-state coordination improves. The RSAS covering 6.5 lakh sq km is impressive though!
Lithium aur cobalt ki kami ko door karna bahut zaroori hai for our EV dreams. But what about the manpower? We need more trained geologists and mining engineers. Also, the mention of gold in Karnataka is interesting - Kolar gold fields have history, but they were shut down. Are we reopening old mines? Clear details needed. 😊
I appreciate the focus on mineral security, but I hope 'mission mode' doesn't mean compromising on safety and environmental standards. The mention of scientific mine closure is a good sign - we have too many abandoned mines causing problems. Also,
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