The Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Coal, in partnership with the Government of Assam, will jointly host the 2nd North East Geology and Mining Ministers’ Conclave in Guwahati on June 27–28, 2025. The event, aligned with the Government of India’s 'Viksit Bharat' vision, aims to unlock the mineral and coal potential of the North Eastern Region (NER) and promote balanced regional development.

The conclave will see participation from all eight North Eastern states, with the Chief Minister of Assam attending as the Chief Guest, alongside ministers of geology and mining from across the region.

Focusing on sustainable mining, ease of doing business, and centre-state collaboration, the event will include key presentations by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on new exploration findings and the release of important geological publications. Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between central agencies and state governments are also expected to be signed to fast-track exploration projects under the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).

India’s mineral auction momentum continues, with 283 mineral blocks put up for auction in FY 2024–25 alone. Of these, 161 have been successfully awarded, bringing the total to 515, including five blocks in Assam and four critical mineral blocks in Arunachal Pradesh—highlighting the strategic importance of the region.

In addition, the Ministry of Coal will release two key publications during the conclave: the Report on Coal Resources & Exploration in NER and a brochure on commercial coal mining in the region. These will showcase the recent progress, including the auction of five coal blocks with a combined peak capacity of 1.234 MTPA and plans for over 3.9 lakh meters of drilling.