The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has amended rules governing the concession, storage and transportation of minor minerals, making GPS-enabled vehicles, RFID registration and a valid e-Challan mandatory for mineral movement across the Union Territory. The measures aim to curb large-scale illegal mining and strengthen compliance, officials said.

The Mining Department has set January 26, 2026, as the deadline for full compliance with GPS, RFID and e-Challan requirements. The changes were notified by Additional Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Singh under amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2016, in exercise of powers under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.

Under the revised Rule 71, no mineral concessionaire—including mining lessees, licensees, permit holders, crusher units and brick kiln operators—may transport minerals such as riverbed material, nallah muck, stone, boulders, sand, clay, crushed bajri and bricks without GPS-enabled vehicles registered with the department and carrying a unique RFID number. Transport will also require a valid e-Challan in Form ‘A’, bearing a QR code or watermark generated via the department’s designated portal.

All vehicles and machinery used for extraction and transportation must be registered with the department and fitted with operational GPS tracking systems. In addition, a GST-compliant invoice must be issued by the consignor to the buyer for the movement of raw or processed minor minerals.

Officials said a pilot of GPS-enabled mineral ?????? in Samba district was successful, and the compliance framework will be rolled out across the Union Territory by the January 26, 2026 deadline following awareness and enforcement drives. The department is also setting up district-level Quick Response Teams equipped with modern tools, while Point-of-Sale machines are being provided to enforcement agencies for on-the-spot digital challaning and compounding.

An Integrated Mining Surveillance System has been deployed in collaboration with BISAG-N. The platform integrates GPS tracking, RFID, e-Challan, weighbridge data and public grievance redressal on a real-time dashboard to improve transparency and accountability. Officials said 114 system-generated alerts were verified on the ground, confirming 14 cases of illegal mining and penalties totalling Rs 9 million.

For FY2025–26, the department has set a revenue target of Rs 3 billion, including Rs 2 billion from minor minerals and Rs 1 billion from related activities. Revenues from major minerals are expected from FY2026–27 after completion of the limestone auction process.