Hoda Committee (2006)

The government set up a committee (in 2006) under the then member of the Planning Commission, Anwarul Hoda, to suggest changes in the mining policy. The Hoda committee focused primarily on mineral extraction. The Committee carried out a comparative analysis of the mineral policies and statutes of other major mineral producing countries in the world such as Australia, Canada, Chile, and South Africa.

Major Recommendations

• The mineral policy has to be revised to attune it to the current realities in the world economy.
• While the Geological Survey of India (GSI) would need to be strengthened and much of the future investment needed for exploration and mining would have to come from the private sector.
• To induce investment flows, the policy environment would have to change.
• The policy would have to require an arm’s length to be maintained between the State as a regulator and the State as a commercial entity engaged in mining activities.
• Equally important, the policy should provide for environmental concerns and the needs of local communities to be fully taken into account during mining operations.