Patna: Bihar’s Mines and Geology Department has recorded a significant increase in revenue collection during the first five months of the current financial year, with collections rising by nearly 36% compared with the corresponding period last year.
Mines and Geology Minister Pramod Kumar said on Monday that the department collected Rs 984.99 crore between April and August 2026, compared with Rs 725.05 crore during the same period of 2025-26.
The department’s revenue collection increased by Rs 259.94 crore, or 35.85%, year-on-year. Kumar described the growth as a major achievement, noting that the department normally records an annual revenue increase of around 10-15%.
The minister said the figures indicate that both the department and its systems are functioning effectively. He was speaking to reporters at Vikas Bhawan in Patna in the presence of Mines and Geology Department Secretary-cum-Mines Commissioner Avaneesh Kumar Singh.
316 Arrested in Illegal Mining Crackdown
The department has also intensified action against illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals.
According to Kumar, 316 people were arrested and 3,043 vehicles seized in connection with illegal mining-related activities till August during the current financial year. The department also recovered Rs 42.01 crore in penalties.
During the corresponding period of 2025-26, 233 people had been arrested, 2,425 vehicles seized and Rs 35.71 crore recovered as penalties.
ISTP Generates Rs 58.14 Crore in Less Than Three Months
The minister said the Inter-State Transit Pass (ISTP) system has significantly improved revenue collection from mineral transportation.
Since its introduction on June 10, 2026, the system has generated Rs 58.14 crore in revenue in less than three months. The ISTP portal was introduced to digitally track vehicles carrying minor minerals entering Bihar from other states.
The state has set a target of collecting around Rs 250 crore through ISTP during the current financial year.
Kumar said Bihar had not previously implemented such a system, despite ISTP being operational in several other states, resulting in revenue losses.
So far, 22,203 vehicles have been registered on the portal. Around 4,000 mineral-laden vehicles are entering Bihar from states including Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Sand Mining to Resume From October 15
The department is preparing to issue fresh tenders for sand mining for a five-year period in areas where the previous tender period has expired.
District Mining Officers have been directed to identify sand deposits in their respective districts and prepare fresh District Survey Reports (DSRs) for the next five years.
The department will also begin the auction process for mining ghats where the five-year lease period has ended. Preparations for the auction are already underway.
Kumar said sand mining is particularly significant in districts such as Patna, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Nawada and Jamui.
Although sand mining is currently closed, the minister said operations are expected to resume from October 15, subject to the required environmental clearances.
He clarified that mining activities are undertaken only after obtaining the necessary environmental clearance and that the Mines Department does not independently begin mining operations at any location.
Three Mineral Blocks Put Up for Auction
The Central government’s Ministry of Mines has published tenders for the auction of three mineral blocks in Bihar — the Sapneri Vanadiferous-Magnetite Block in Gaya, and the Nawadih and Tipa Glauconite Blocks in Rohtas.
A roadshow was organised in Patna on August 17, 2026, with senior Central government officials to encourage entrepreneurs to participate in the auctions.
The e-auction of the Majos and Bhanta Magnetite Blocks in Jamui and the Pindara Copper-Lead-Zinc Block in Banka is expected to be published in September 2026.
Recruitment of 1,000 Mining Constables Underway
The department is also moving ahead with its plan to recruit 1,000 ‘Khanan Sipahi’ or mining constables to curb illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals.
Kumar said necessary action is being taken following Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s approval for the recruitment. However, he said further details would be shared only after the remaining procedural formalities are completed.
The department had announced the recruitment plan on August 6, saying the dedicated force would work on the lines of the Prohibition and Excise Department.
According to the department, the dedicated force is expected to improve transparency in mining operations and enable officials to conduct raids more effectively against illegal activities.
GPS Tracking for Mineral-Laden Vehicles
The Mines Department is also preparing to install GPS devices on vehicles transporting minor minerals into Bihar from outside the state.
The initiative is aimed at improving transparency and regulation in mineral transportation while enabling the department to monitor vehicles in real time.
The move is expected to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and help the department curb illegal transportation of minerals across the state.
