History
- Indian Bureau of Mines was set up on 1st March,1948.
- Initially IBM functioned purely as an advisory body.
- It helped government in framing various rules like Mines & Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1948, Mineral Concession Rules, 1949 and Petroleum Concession Rules, 1949.
- IBM was given a set of functions in 1950 and in accordance with it, the inspection of mines and mineral prospects became a regular activity.
- By 1953 IBM was given an additional function of undertaking detailed exploration of mineral deposits. Among the minerals explored by IBM were Iron Ore, Limestone, Dolomite, Coal, Copper, Tungsten.
- Later Mineral Conservation & Development Rules,1955 and Mining Leases (Modification of Terms),1956 were framed.
- An ore dressing laboratory was set up at Delhi in 1955.
- With the passage of time the activities of IBM grew in depth and extent like Technical Consultancy and preparation of mineral maps leading to complete inventory of mineral resources. With its pool of mining engineers, geologists and ore dressing engineers it covered a wide variety of needs of the mining industry.
- Various publications related to mining and mineral industries were brought out.
- Offices were set up in the different parts of the country close to major mining centers.
- In the last decade, with the change in the policy of Government, two very important activities were undertaken by IBM. The first being the processing and approval of mining plans and schemes of mining for all the mines in the country and second one being the implementation of rules for the protection of environment. IBM accepted this challenge and has been successful in promoting the awareness about protection of environment in the mines through the "Mines Environment & Conservation Week".
- IBM also started imparting training to the industry personnel in the preparation of mining plans and also in the other fields.
- Modern Mineral Processing Laboratory, Analytical Laboratory and Pilot Plants were set up at Nagpur, Ajmer and Bangalore.
- IBM lost no time in realising the potential of information technology and entered into the agreement with BRGM of France in setting up "Mineral Resources Intelligence System" and "Technical Management Information System" in HQ and its 4 Zonal & 13 Regional offices.
- In a nutshell, the IBM has been able to promote awareness amongst all sections of the mining industry, necessity and advantages of systematic mining and conservation of minerals and protection of environment. The results of its ore dressing investigations have formed the basis of new commercial beneficiation plants and thus enlarged the mineral resource base. The IBM's clientele seeking technical consultancy covers a wide spectrum of small and large mines and many public sector organisations. IBM has been able to provide useful information to the industry through its publications and has been recognised as the Mines and Minerals Data Bank of the country.