Ministry of Mines is responsible for survey and exploration of all minerals, other than natural gases, petroleum and atomic minerals; for mining and metallurgy of non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, gold, nickel etc. and for administration of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in respect of all mines and minerals other than coal, natural gas and petroleum.  A list of subjects allocated to the Ministry of Mines, attached / subordinate offices, Public Sector Undertakings and Research Institutions under the administrative control of Ministry of Mines is given below :-

(a)   Legislation for regulation of mines and development of minerals within the territory of India , including mines and minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the continental shelf, or the exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India as may be specified, from time to time by or under any law made by Parliament.

(b)   Regulation of mines and development of minerals other than Coal, Lignite and Sand for stowing and any other mineral declared as prescribed substances for the purpose of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962) under the control of the Union as declared by law, including questions concerning regulation and development of minerals in various States and the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(c)   All other metals and minerals not specifically allotted to any other Ministry/Department, such as Aluminium, Zinc, Copper, Gold, Diamonds, Lead and Nickel.

(d)   Planning, development and control of, and assistance to, all industries dealt with by the Ministry.

(e)   Geological Survey of India
(f)    Indian Bureau of Mines
(g)   Metallurgical Grade Silicon.

Attached/Subordinate Offices

Geological Survey of India is an attached office and Indian Bureau of Mines is a subordinate office of the Ministry.

Public Sector Undertakings

There are four Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Mines namely:-
- National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Bhubaneswar 
-  Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), Kolkata
- Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited(MECL), Nagpur 
- Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML), Kolar Gold Fields (Karnataka). 
  (Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) has been closed under Section 25(O)
   of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 from 1.3.2001.)

Autonomous Bodies

There are three S&T Institutions which are Autonomous Bodies of this Ministry namely:-
- Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre 
  (JNARDDC) Nagpur.
- National Institute of Rock Mechanics, (NIRM) Kolar; and
- National Institute of Miners’ Health (NIMH), Nagpur

In addition a registered Society,  namely the Non-ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre, Hyderabad (NFTDC ) a non-grant institution came within the administrative purview of the Ministry during the year as a consequence  to the election of Secretary ( Mines) as the Chairman of the General Body  of the Centre in place of the Scientific Advisor, D.R.D.O

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