Section 11(2)(b) in The Mineral Concession Rules, 1960
(b)An application for the renewal for a prospecting license shall be disposed of by the State Government before the expiry of the period of prospecting license and if the application is not disposed of within that period, the license shall be deemed to have been renewed for a period not exceeding the period for renewal of prospecting license under sub-section (2) of section 7 of the Act, or the period for which an application is made, whichever is less.]