Rajat Mahotsav: Chhattisgarh State Level Geological Program Board holds its 25th meeting in the year 2025·

Secretary, Chhattisgarh Government, Mineral Resources Department and Chairman Chhattisgarh Geological Program Board P Dayanand addressing the the program held at new Circuit House , Civil Lines , Raipur on Thursday August 21, 2025 -Photo Credit CG/PR

In Short

*Chhattisgarh’s big leap in the mining sector: Revenue of more than 15 thousand crores in the year 2024-25, new mining project gave new impetus to development

*Minerals are the backbone of the all-round development of any state and country: P. Dayanand

Raipur : The 25th meeting of the State Level Geological Program Board Chhattisgarh as Rajat Mahotsav was held on Thursday August 21 , 2025 at the New Circuit House in Civil Line under the chairmanship of P. Dayanand, Secretary, Chhattisgarh Government, Mineral Resources Department and Chairman Chhattisgarh Geological Program Board.

Rajat Bansal, Director Geology and Mining and representatives of various departments and undertakings of the Central Government and State Government were also present in the meeting. The main objective of the meeting was to prepare a framework for better use of mineral resources in the state, new mining projects and review the achievements of the last year.

Secretary, Chhattisgarh Government, Mineral Resources Department and Chairman Chhattisgarh Geological Program Board P Dayanand, Rajat Bansal, Director Geology and Mining and other dignataries siting on dais -Photo Credit-CG/PR

In the meeting, a detailed description of the mining operations completed during the year 2024-25 and the achievements made from them was presented.

During the review, it came to light that in the last financial year, the state has received about Rs 15 thousand crore as mineral revenue. This achievement is about 34 percent more than the year 2023-24. This growth has not only strengthened the economic structure of the state, but has also opened the doors to new investments and opportunities in the mining sector.

The geological work done in the year 2024-25 by the departments and institutions of the Government of India and the State Government working in the field of mineral exploration and mineral exploitation in the state of Chhattisgarh was reviewed.

During the review, while the achievements of the works done in the year 2024-25 were discussed, the geological work proposed in the year 2025-26 for the exploration of minerals found in the state was finalised. In his address, Secretary to the Chief Minister, P. Dayanand said that minerals are the backbone of the all-round development of any state and country. The discovery of strategic and critical minerals in the state indicates the beginning of a new era of development in the state.

He said that for the establishment of new mineral-based industries in Chhattisgarh, various minerals present in the state should be explored in a continuous and systematic manner. All the departments and institutions associated with the exploration work present in the meeting were requested to explore the important minerals found in the state using their skills, resources and the latest available technologies for the overall development of Chhattisgarh.

Secretary to the Chief Minister and Mineral Secretary P Dayanand advised sharing of the data produced and establishing coordination among the agencies working for the development of minerals in Chhattisgarh.

In the meeting, Director Geology and Mining Chhattisgarh, Rajat Bansal, while giving information about the work done in the regional session 2024-25, said that in the year 2024-25, about 2500 million tonnes of limestone and about 93 million tonnes of iron ore reserves were estimated. Important and strategic minerals have been included by the department in the exploration projects of the upcoming regional session 2025-26.

This project will be a decisive step towards the mineral resources required for the country. It will strengthen the Self-reliant India Mission and encourage sustainable and self-reliant development in strategic areas. He said that “The Chhattisgarh government is committed to provide full support to scientific and detailed mineral exploration and development.”

Ministry of Mines, Government of India has approved 01 exploration project for limestone and 01 exploration project for bauxite in the year 2024-25 under NMET in Chhattisgarh. Two proposals were approved to the notified private exploration institute for exploration work of the state under NMET. Which includes one proposal for lithium, niobium, tantalum, titanium rare earth metals and one iron ore. Important steps have been taken by the department to strengthen exploration and refinement of mineral resources by promoting collaboration with private institutions.

Representatives of various departments, undertakings of the Central Government and the State Government also presented information about the mineral exploration work done in the state of Chhattisgarh. First of all, Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India, Dr. Amit Dharwarkar told that survey work has been done for bauxite, gold, glauconite, lithium, titanium rare earth metals, phosphorite, fluorite, lead and zinc minerals in various districts of Chhattisgarh. Work is being taken on a total of 29 projects of various minerals in the year 2025-26.

A total of 11 exploration projects were approved for survey / prospecting work by the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chhattisgarh in the year 2025-26. Which includes 02 projects on strategic and critical minerals, 02 on glauconite, 01 on lepidolite, 02 on limestone, 02 on iron ore and 02 on bauxite.

On this occasion, IBM Raipur Regional Controller Prem Prakash, Regional Mining Geologist D. Das, GSI Raipur Deputy Director General Amit A. Dharwadkar, AMD Central Region Regional Director S.R. Manthanwar along with NMDC, CIL, Vedanta, Ultratech, Deccan Gold officials and officials of other related departments were present.