Govt to explore underground mineral deposits

Union Coal and Mines Minister Prahlad Joshi stated that the Centre intends to conduct more explorations for underground mineral deposits in order to increase the contribution of the non-petroleum and iron ore sectors to GDP within a decade. A total of 430 blocks at the G2, G3, and G4 levels have been explored across the country, and exploration reports have been distributed to the states involved. The mining sector's contribution to GDP is less than 1%, and I'm talking about minerals other than petroleum products and (iron) ore. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned, we must increase it (contribution) to at least 2.5 percent by 2030. He stated that he has told the GSI to speed up its exploration projects.