Patna, April 1: Bihar’s Mines and Geology Department generated Rs 3,592.60 crore in revenue during the 2025-26 financial year, marking an increase of Rs 56.39 crore over the previous year’s collection.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, while addressing a press conference at Soochna Bhawan on Wednesday, maintained that the department is on track to achieve its revised annual target of Rs 3,800 crore as pending payments from various agencies are processed this month.
The revenue growth was achieved despite the surrender of 78 sand mining leases by companies citing massive losses, a move that resulted in an estimated revenue gap of Rs 600 crore.
Deputy CM Sinha asserted that these surrenders were a direct consequence of the state’s intensified vigil against overloading and illegal mining. In a stern policy shift, the Minister declared that any company or director involved in surrendering these leases will be permanently barred from participating in future tenders, even if they attempt to bid under different corporate names.
“The department has collected Rs 3,592.60 crore in the financial year 2025-26 against Rs 3,536.21 crore in 2024-25,” Sinha stated, adding that 21 districts surpassed their individual revenue targets.
He noted that the total would have been higher if not for nearly Rs 309 crore in technical delays regarding transfers from the Railways, Metro, and other work departments on the final day of the fiscal year.
To further bolster the state’s economy, the department has identified 30 blocks for stone mining leases, a move intended to reduce reliance on imports from neighboring states.
Additionally, the Deputy CM affirmed that Bihar is gaining national prominence in major minerals, with the Union Mines Ministry recently publishing advertisements for the auction of Glauconite and Vanadium Magnetite blocks in Rohtas and Gaya districts, with a bidding deadline of May 20, 2026.
The state also rewarded 96 citizens under the “Bihari Khanan Yoddha Purashkar” initiative for providing actionable intelligence on illegal mining. Sinha confirmed that Rs 4.90 lakh was transferred directly to the informants’ accounts.
Enforcement data for the 2025-26 period revealed that authorities conducted over 50,302 raids, leading to more than 2,727 FIRs and the arrest of 700 individuals. Furthermore, the department seized 6,214 vehicles, realizing Rs 82.06 crore in penalties.
