Hamirpur/New Delhi, August 28, 2026:
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel, chaired by Anurag Thakur, reviewed measures to curb illegal mining of minerals and metals in the country and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms and greater use of technology to protect India’s mineral resources.
The committee held a high-level meeting to take oral evidence and undertake detailed deliberations with key stakeholders from the mining sector. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, the Chairman and Managing Directors of NALCO and Hindustan Copper Limited, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Mines.
The discussions focused on the urgent need to strengthen enforcement against illegal mining across the country. The committee emphasised that safeguarding India’s mineral wealth requires clear accountability and coordinated action at both the Central and State levels.
The committee also stressed the need for a zero-tolerance approach towards unauthorised mining activities. It underlined that a robust regulatory framework, coupled with seamless coordination among government agencies, is essential to ensure lawful, transparent and sustainable mining practices.
A key focus of the meeting was the adoption of technology-led solutions for monitoring and protecting mineral resources. The committee advocated the rapid deployment of advanced digital tools, particularly artificial intelligence and drone-based surveillance, to strengthen oversight of mining areas.
The use of AI and drones can enable authorities to monitor mining sites more effectively, facilitate real-time tracking of activities and help identify unauthorised operations at an early stage. Such technology-driven interventions can also enable faster enforcement action and make monitoring more transparent and accountable.
The committee underlined that India’s mineral wealth is a strategic national asset and its responsible utilisation must be ensured not only for present economic needs but also for future generations. It called for a coordinated, technology-enabled approach involving both Central and State authorities to secure the country’s mineral resources and effectively curb illegal mining.
