1. Whom should I contact for any issues related to Mining activity in Goa?

2. Who is the owner of minerals in India / Goa?

3. Who grants mineral concessions?

4. What are the different mineral concessions in Goa?

5. Who is eligible to obtain mineral concessions in Goa?

6. What is the period and tenure for which a "Reconnaissance Permit" is granted?

7. What is the period and tenure for which a "Prospecting License" is granted?

8. What is the period and tenure for which a "Mining Lease" is granted?

9. What is the time limit stipulated for disposal of mineral concession?

10. What is the principle of granting of mineral concessions in Goa ?

11. Can a Mining Lease be granted without first granting a prospecting license?

12. Does a person have any preferential right to obtain a mineral concession for the area over which he has surface rights?

13. When does the mineral concession become operative?

14. How does a person renew a mining lease? What rights does he have regarding renewal of the mining lease?

15. What are the provisions of royalty and dead rent, and who collects them?

16. Who is the authority for filing of revisions against the orders of the State Government?

17. Who is the authority for filing of revisions against the orders of the State Government?

18. Do you have a specific query, which is not answered above?

• Director, Directorate of Mines and Geology
  Udyog Bhavan,
  Panaji,
  Goa- 403 001
  E-mail:  dir-mine.goa ( at ) nic.in
  Website: http://www.goadmg.gov.in/

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• The Government of Goa  is the owner of minerals located within the boundary of the State.  The Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.   

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• The Government of Goa grants the mineral concessions for all the minerals located within the boundary of the State, under provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957,  Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, and Mineral conservation and Development Rules, 1988.
• For minerals specified in the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, before granting the mineral concession, approval of the Central Government is required.
• For the Minor mineral powers for framing Rules for granting mineral concessions, fixing rates of royalty and dead rent vest with the Government of Goa under provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.  Accordingly, Goa Minor Mineral Concessions Rules, 1959 was framed.  In respect of Granites Government of India has framed Granite conservation and Development Rules,1999.

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• Three kinds of mineral concessions are recognized in Indian law, viz Reconnaissance Permit (RP), Prospecting License (PL) and Mining Lease (ML)
• RP is granted for preliminary prospecting of a mineral through regional, aerial, geophysical or geochemical surveys and geological mapping.
• PL is granted for undertaking operations for purpose of exploring, locating or proving mineral deposit.
• ML is granted for undertaking operations for winning any mineral.

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• As per section 5(1) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act,1957, any ‘person’ who is either an Indian national or a company registered in India under section 3(1) of Companies Act, 1956 is eligible to obtain mineral concessions. While in case of an individual, the ‘person’ should be a citizen of India, in case of a firm or other association of individuals, all members of the firm or members of the association should be citizens of India for such a ‘person’ to be considered as ‘Indian national’.

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• RP for any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals is granted for a maximum period of three years and for a maximum area of 5,000 square kilometer, to be relinquished progressively.
• After two years, the area should be reduced to 1,000 square kilometer or 50% of the area granted, whichever is less.
• At the end of three years, area held under a RP should be reduced to 25 square kilometer
• RP cannot be renewed.
• A person can be granted a maximum area of 10,000 square kilometer in two or more RPs
• The person who undertakes reconnaissance operations under RP enjoys preferential right for grant of prospecting license

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• PL for any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals is granted for a maximum period of three years and for a maximum area of twenty five square kilometer.
• PL can be renewed in such a manner that the total period for which a PL is granted does not exceed five years.
• A person can be granted a maximum area of twenty five square kilometer in one or more PLs, but if the Central Government is of the opinion that in the interest of development of any mineral it is necessary to do so, the maximum area limit can be relaxed.
• The person who undertakes prospecting under PL enjoys preferential right for grant of mining lease.

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• ML for any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals is granted for a minimum period of twenty years and a maximum period of thirty years and for a maximum area of ten square kilometer.

• ML can be renewed for periods not exceeding twenty years.

• A person can be granted a maximum area of 10 square kilometer in one or more MLs, but if the Central Government is of the opinion that in the interest of development of any mineral it is necessary to do so, the maximum area limit can be relaxed.

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• As per Rule 63A of Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, the time limits stipulated for the disposal of mineral concessions is as follows:
  • Reconnaissance Permits     :    6 months
  • Prospecting Licence          :    9 months
  • Mining Lease                   :   12 months

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• The general principle followed in granting mineral concessions for minerals other than minor minerals is, other things being equal, the principle of ‘first come first serve’. However, a person who has undertaken reconnaissance operations under a RP has the preferential right for obtaining a PL, and similarly, a person who has prospected for the mineral under a PL has the preferential right for obtaining a ML.
• In other cases of simultaneous applications for mining lease, the law provides that the State Government could, in a transparent manner evaluate relative merits of the applicants on objective criteria like special experience, financial resources, level of proposed investment etc. and grant mining lease accordingly.
• In addition, for all minerals included in the First Schedule to the MMDR Act, 1957, approval of the Central Government should be obtained before passing any order.

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• Yes. If the Government is satisfied that there is evidence to show that the area for which the lease is applied for has been prospected earlier or the existence of mineral contents therein has been established otherwise than by means of prospecting such area.

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• No. Having surface rights do not accord any preferential right to a person for obtaining mineral concessions.

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• The Government of Goatakes a decision on the application for the mineral concession in a time bound manner, as prescribed in Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. After the decision to grant mineral concession is conveyed, the mineral concession should be executed within three months for RP and PL, and within six months for ML, after completing all documentation.

The period of tenure of the mineral concession is operative from the date of registration of the lease deed of the  mineral concession in question under Rule 31(2) of Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.

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• A person is required to apply for renewal of the mining lease twelve months prior to the date of expiry of the subsisting mining lease. Any delay in such filing can be condoned by the Government of Goa on merits provided the application for renewal is made prior to the date of expiry of the subsisting mining lease. The documentation required and the procedure involved for renewal of a mining lease is the same as that for a new mining lease, and an application for renewal can be granted or rejected by the Government of Goa on merits.
• However, if a person applies for renewal of the mining lease in time, he can continue mining operations even beyond the date of expiry of the subsisting mining lease till the State Government passes a decision on his application for renewal.
• Further, every person seeking renewal of the mining lease for mineral which is used in his own industry is entitled for renewal of the lease for a period not exceeding twenty years.

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• A mining lease lapses, if after execution of the mining lease, mining operation does not commence in two years time. If for genuine reasons more time is required to commence mining operation, the entrepreneur should inform the State Government well in advance and take permission.
• After commencement of mining operation, if the area is kept idle/not worked for a continuous period of two years, the mining lease also lapses. In such cases also the entrepreneur should inform the Government of Goa and take permission in order to avoid lapsing of the mining lease.
• If the mining leaseholder violates any of the terms and conditions of the mining lease, including default in payment of mining dues, the mining lease can be terminated.
• For all minerals other than minor minerals, the Central Government reserves the right to direct premature termination of a mining lease for grounds specified in section 4A(1) of the MMDR Act, 1957, which include preservation of natural environment, prevention of pollution, preservation of monuments etc.

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• The Central Government notifies the rates of royalties and dead rent payable for various minerals from time to time through amendment in the Second and Third Schedules of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Once fixed, the law provides that these rates cannot be enhanced before three years.
• The Government of Goa collects royalties and dead rent, through the Directorate of Mines.

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• If a person has any grievance against any order passed by the State Government (impugned order) in respect of any mineral other than a minor mineral, the aggrieved person can file a revision application with the Central Government within three months of passing the impugned order.

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• In case of any query please mail us at

  dir-mine.goa (at) nic.in