Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines, carried out a G3 stage mineral exploration project during Field Season 2020-21 and 2021-22 in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir and estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore and the report has been handed over to the Government of Union Territory of J&K. GSI proposes to carry out more exploration activities in J&K for identifying lithium resources.

The estimated value of lithium in J&K will be estimated on completion of further exploration.

GSI generates baseline geoscience data through mapping, e.g. geological, geochemical, geophysical which is pre-requisite for identifying the potential area for systematic mineral exploration. Based on the mapping data, GSI carries out systematic mineral exploration activities for various major mineral commodities including lithium.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Limited (MECL) have taken up a number of exploration projects of lithium and will take up more projects in future. Ministry of Mines provides 100% funding from National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to State Governments and private exploration agencies, if they take up lithium exploration projects.

This was informed by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Pralhad Joshi in the Lok Sabha recently.