Three CPSEs, namely National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), under Ministry of Mines have formed a Joint Venture company namely “Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)”. KABIL has initiated engagement with several state owned organizations of the shortlisted source countries through Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassies in countries like Argentina and Australia to acquire mineral assets overseas – primarily the critical & strategic minerals including Lithium, Cobalt & others and not Rare Earth Elements.

National Mineral Policy has been notified in February 2019, which has provisions for Scientific methods of mining, Mining machinery and Mineral Beneficiation equipment and development of automated equipment. The government has been giving more thrust and initiated steps on use of state of-the-art technology like remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), artificial intelligence, space technology, UAVs, E-vehicles, etc. in exploration and mining. In recent years, drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have started to make headway across the mining industry. Indian Bureau of Mines, a subordinate office under Ministry of Mines, has also taken up Drone Survey on pilot basis in mining leases which shall pave way for future virtual monitoring and regulation.

This information was given by Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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SS/RKP