Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the two-day National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Summit 2026 at the SCOPE Convention Centre in New Delhi and opened an exhibition showcasing DMF initiatives. The exhibition presented success stories from several states and highlighted initiatives for mining-affected communities. The minister interacted with beneficiaries and stakeholders at the event. The summit was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines Piyush Goyal and brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on effective utilisation of DMF funds for sustainable and inclusive development. The secretary noted that around 200 mining blocks have been auctioned in the current financial year, indicating ongoing sectoral reforms intended to ensure benefits reach last-mile beneficiaries. The discussions emphasised equitable benefit sharing, environmental protection and livelihood restoration in mining-affected areas. The event was themed on effective utilisation of District Mineral Foundation funds for Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) areas and prioritised outcome-oriented implementation through convergence, transparency and monitoring. Officials outlined approaches to align DMF spending with local development needs and to promote saturation-based implementation in targeted areas. The summit stressed the importance of coordination across implementing agencies to maximise developmental impact. Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Sushil Kumar Lohani highlighted the Panchayat Advancement Index portal that enables data-driven governance using 435 indicators across nine themes aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Additional Secretary at NITI Aayog Rohit Kumar set out principles of Convergence, Collaboration and Competition and the complementary elements of Funds, Functions and Functionaries as drivers for transformational change. State delegations presented case studies and operational lessons to inform peer learning. On day one Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand shared best practices emphasising convergence and saturation approaches to maximise developmental outcomes. The exhibition featured DMF beneficiaries from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu showcasing products and local initiatives. Organisers expect the summit to strengthen coordination among stakeholders and enhance the effective utilisation of DMF funds for inclusive and sustainable development.