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 tune it to the current realities in the world economy and induce investment flows.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) would need to be strengthened
• Much of the future investment needed for exploration and mining would have to come from the private sector.
• The policy need to balance the role of State as a regulator and as a commercial entity engaged in mining activities.
• The policy should provide for environmental concerns and the needs of local communities to be fully taken into account during mining operations.