Section 10C: Grant of non-exclusive reconnaissance permits.

(1) Non-exclusive reconnaissance permits may be granted in respect of any notified mineral or non-notified mineral or a group of specified minerals, other than minerals specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule, subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(2) The holder of such non-exclusive reconnaissance permit shall not be entitled to make any claim for the grant of any prospecting licence-cum-mining lease or a mining lease.] 1[Provided that the holder of non-exclusive reconnaissance permit who carries out the prescribed level of exploration in respect of deep seated minerals or such minerals as may be notified by the Central Government, may submit an application to the State Government for the grant of any prospecting licence-cum-mining lease as per the procedure laid down under section 11 or a mining lease as per the procedure laid down under section 10B and with a view to increase the reconnaissance and prospecting operations of such minerals, the Central Government shall prescribe such procedure, including the bidding parameters for selection of such holders.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “deep seated minerals” means such minerals which occur at a depth of more than three hundred meters from the surface of land with poor surface manifestations.]