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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-24102025-267118
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 696]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2025/KARTIKA 2, 1947
MINISTRY OF MINES
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 23rd October, 2025
G.S.R. 780(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of section 9C and
section 13 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), the Central Government
hereby makes the following rules further to amend the National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2015, namely:—
1. (1) These rules may be called the National Mineral Exploration Trust (Amendment) Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as the 'said rules'), in rule 1, in sub-
rule (1), for the words "National Mineral Exploration Trust", the words "National Mineral Exploration and
Development Trust" shall be substituted.
3. In the said rules, in rule 2, in sub-rule (1), —
(a) in clauses (b), (c) and (j), for the words "National Mineral Exploration Trust", the words "National
Mineral Exploration and Development Trust” shall be substituted;
(b) in clause (i), the word "and" shall be omitted;
(c) after clause (i), the following clause shall be inserted, namely-
'(ia) "Offshore areas" shall have the same meaning as defined in clause (n) of section 4 of the Offshore
Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (17 of 2003); and'
4. In the said rules, in rule 6,—
(a) in sub-rule (1), for the words "National Mineral Exploration Trust", the words "National Mineral
Exploration and Development Trust" shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-rule (3), —
(i) for the words "two percent", the words "three percent" shall be substituted;
(ii) for the words "prospective license-cum-mining lease", the words "composite licence" shall be
substituted;
(c) in sub-rule (4), the words ", including carrying out regional and detailed exploration for minerals under
the scheme, namely, 'Regional and detailed exploration and related activities under Fund" shall be omitted.
5. In the said rules, in rule 7, in sub-rule (1),—
(a) for the words "prospective license-cum-mining lease", the words "composite licence" shall be substituted;
(b) for the words "two percent", the words "three percent" shall be substituted.
6. In the said rules, for rule 8, the following rule shall be substituted, namely:-
"8. Office. — The office of the Trust shall be situated at New Delhi or at such other place as may be
determined by the Executive Committee.".
7. In the said rules, in rule 9, in sub-rule (1), —
(a) for the opening paragraph, the following shall be substituted, namely:-
"The object of the Trust shall be to use the funds accrued to the Trust within India, including the
offshore areas, and outside India for the purposes of regional and detailed exploration and development
of mines and minerals, and it shall undertake such activities as may be deemed necessary by the
Governing Body to achieve its objects, including";
(b) in clause (a), after the word "refine”, the words "critical and strategic minerals or" shall be inserted;
(c) in clause (g), the words "across India" shall be omitted;
(d) in clause (h), the words "and rest of India" shall be omitted;
(e) in clause (j), the word "and" shall be omitted;
(f) after clause (j), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:—
"(ja) supporting and funding the objectives and schemes of the National Critical Mineral Mission,
including domestic critical mineral exploration, support of exploration activities outside India, risk
coverage of foreign sourcing and mineral recovery;
(jb) supporting and funding of mining, processing, beneficiation, evacuation infrastructure, technology
upgradation, and other activities related to mine development; and";
(g) in clause (k), the words "of India" shall be omitted.
[F. No. M.VI/8/2025-Mines VI]
DINESH MAHUR, Jt. Secy.
Note.— The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i),
vide number G.S.R. 623(E), dated the 14th August, 2015 and was amended, vide number G.S.R. 208(E), dated
the 7th March, 2018.
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