Joint auctions of bauxite and coal blocks expected to reduce dependence on imports
Legal consequences of the coronavirus-triggered lockdown have apparently been dealt with differently by high courts, and the Supreme Court is yet to grapple with them in an appeal
Good nutrition is essential to a strong immune system, which offers protection not only from novel infections, such as COVID -19, but also seasonal illness
While metallic minerals grab the limelight for more widespread industrial applications, the non-metallic minerals trump them in value terms
India has not been able to utilise its mineral wealth
Atomic minerals zirconium, monazite and thorium are found in abundance along several beaches of the country
Of 288 blocks expiring by March 2020, 59 are operative
Trend has shown no sign of abatement since 2013-14; Gold and diamond make up 80% of value of imported minerals
Iron ore leads robust growth among major minerals; bauxite production dips almost 9%
Govt officials said any mineral extracted from a mine should not go waste
Mineral exploration in India is currently constrained due to lack of private sector participation, Union minister Piyush Goyal said today. A public private partnership could be tried out to give a fillip to mineral exploration, Goyal, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, said. Addressing a FICCI conference here, he said, "the time is ripe to reflect on where we had gone wrong" while suggesting setting up of a committee comprising young mining aspirants to develop a position paper to speed up exploration activities. "This committee should look at innovative ways to bring down the time of actual operation of mine after it is put up for auction, thus enabling the sector to make a quantum jump," he added. Underlining the need to step up mineral exploration in the country, he said that at present it is "constrained due to lack of private sector participation". Seeking to address industry concerns, Goyal said that high value,
The funds would be utilized for environmental conservation, restoration & regeneration activities
Rs 2,116 crore would be required over five years to implement the policy
Total value of mineral production, which excludes atomic and minor minerals, in April 2016 was Rs 18,186 crore
The recurring legal issue over the control of minerals between state governments and the Centre surfaced again when the Kerala government claimed rights over atomic minerals on the southern coast and the Supreme Court dismissed its appeal by majority with one judge dissenting.In this case, State of Kerala vs Kerala Rare Earths & Minerals Ltd, the state government granted licences to the firm but within 10 days stayed its own order for re-examining the environmental impact on the crowded area and the priority of public sector firms vis-a-vis private miners. Rare Earth challenged the state government's action in the high court. It held that the state government was wrong. The government appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming right over the minerals.While dismissing the appeal, the court pointed out that the approval of the Centre was also required under the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act and it had approved of licences in this case. The judgment further pointed out th