As per records available, total production of raw Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) and total value- added BSM (Total Heavy Minerals) is Nil during the last five (05) years in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

The Union Budget 2026-27 made an announcement to support the mineral-rich States of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated Rare Earth Corridors to promote mining, processing, research and manufacturing, thus, aligning these initiatives with the national priorities of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Net Zero 2070, and Viksit Bharat @2047, while positioning India as a key player in global advanced materials value chains.

As per the provisions under Section (5) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR), mining of atomic minerals (i.e. BSM in this case) equal to or above the threshold values (i.e. 0.00% monazite in Total Heavy Minerals, vide Ministry of Mines notification No. GSR134(E) dated 20.02.2019) shall be carried out only by the Government Company/Corporation, owned or controlled by the Government.

Section 23C of the MMDR Act, 1957 empowers the State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals and for the purposes connected therewith.

As regards illegal exports of BSM, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India issued Notification No. 26/2015-2020 dated 21.08.2018 on export policy on BSM under which export of BSM has been brought under State Trading Enterprise and shall be canalized through IREL (India) Limited (IREL).

As regards promoting domestic beneficiation capability, IREL has been mandated to mine and process the heavy mineral sands which includes rare earth bearing mineral viz. monazite in India. In addition, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML), a State Public Sector

Enterprise (SPSE) under Government of Kerala also undertakes similar activity. IREL has been operating in three locations having the facility for integrated mining and processing of heavy mineral sands and a facility each for extraction and refining of Rare Earths. IREL possesses the requisite expertise across integrated mining, mineral separation, REE extraction and refining. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy collaborates with IREL to develop necessary technologies pertaining to processing of rare earths.

This information given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today on 1st April, 2026, Wednesday.

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NKR/AK