New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Geological Survey of India carried out 92 mineral exploration projects targeting rare earth elements (REEs) during 2025-26, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the minister stated that Geological Survey of India (GSI) executed 78 mineral exploration projects on REE in 2024-25, and 166 such projects between 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Singh also said, “The Ministry of Mines has successfully auctioned 46 critical mineral blocks, including seven blocks of REE. Additionally, the Central government has also successfully auctioned seven blocks of exploration license, which include two blocks of REE.” The minister highlighted that India has about 7.23 million tonne (Mt) in-situ rare earth oxides (REO) contained in 13.15 Mt monazite (a mineral of thorium and rare earths) occurring in teri, beach sands and inland alluvium in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
Also, 1.29 Mt in-situ REO resources have been identified in hard rock terrains in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. PTI ALC NB
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