Bihar has decided on further exploration of the precious metal in the state’s Jamui district, which is believed to hold India’s highest gold reserves. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi told Lok Sabha last year that the eastern state holds the country’s highest reserves of the yellow metal.

• A survey by the Geological Survey of India has stated that a gold reserve of around 222.88 million tonnes including 27.6 tonnes of mineral-rich ore are present in the Jamui district of Bihar.
• The top official added that the consultation process had started after analysing the survey findings which indicated the presence of gold in areas such as Karmatia, Jhajha and Sono in the Jamui district.
• The Bihar government is likely to sign a memorandum of understanding with a central agency or agencies for G3 (preliminary) stage exploration within a month’s time, adding that in certain areas G2 (general) exploration can also be carried out.