Section 9(1) in The National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2015
(1)The Trust shall carry out regional and detailed exploration for minerals and it shall undertake such activities as may be deemed necessary by the Governing Body to achieve its objects including,-(a)funding special studies and projects designed to identify, explore, extract, beneficiate and refine deep-seated or concealed mineral deposits;(b)undertaking studies for mineral development, sustainable mining adoption of advanced scientific and technological practices and mineral extraction metallurgy;(c)taking up exploration of areas for regional and detailed exploration, giving priority particularly to strategic and critical minerals;(d)consulting Central Geological Programming Board to decide the priorities for exploration of the Trust;(e)facilitating exploration activities in such a manner that areas explored can be taken up for grant of mineral concessions in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder;(f)facilitating completion of brownfield regional exploration projects in obvious geological potential areas (G3) including conducting high-risk exploration for deep-seated mineral deposits through modern technologies;(g)promoting completion of detailed exploration (G2 or G1) across India in the areas where G3 stage exploration has been completed;(h)facilitating geophysical, ground and aerial, survey and geochemical survey of obvious geological potential areas and rest of India;(i)facilitating a national core repository for encouraging research in earth sciences and for evaluation of the mineral prospects;(j)organizing capacity building programmes to raise technical capability of personnel engaged in or to be engaged in exploration; and(k)using the Trust Fund for such other purposes that the Governing Body may decide, or authorise the Executive Committee, to be necessary or expedient in the interest of conservation, development and exploitation of mineral resources of India, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act.
