4th Conference of Mining Ministers to Be Held in Goa

The Ministry of Mines is holding the 4th Conference of Mining Ministers in Goa on November 5–6, 2026. Mining Ministers from various States and senior Central and State government officials are attending the two-day conference, chaired by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy.

Agenda and State mining plans

The discussions cover reforms, progress, opportunities and challenges in the mining and coal sectors, with States invited to share experiences and best practices. The agenda includes the launch of new critical mineral auction tranches and digital initiatives to strengthen mineral governance. Bihar Mines and Geology Minister Pramod Kumar is expected to present the State’s strategy for mining-led industrial growth, its mineral wealth and investment opportunities. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the State plans to e-auction 8–9 additional iron ore mining blocks by December. Show-cause notices are to be issued to firms that have not operationalised blocks they previously won; only six of Goa’s 17 auctioned blocks are currently operational.

Important Facts for Exams

• Federal mineral powers: Although mineral regulation and development appears on the State List, Parliament can legislate under its Union List power, with States bound by central legislation.
• Critical-mineral criteria: Critical-mineral lists and definitions vary by country and over time; there is no universally fixed list or context-independent definition.
• Concession allocation: The 2011 reform bill proposed competitive bidding for concessions in known mineralisation, but first-in-time allocation where mineralisation was unknown.
• Biodiversity safeguards: A sustainable-development framework for mining is to address biodiversity and pair mining activity with measures to restore ecological balance.