Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy launched the National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) portal introducing a centralised platform for gathering information on the 645 DMFs across India. The portal aims to enhance transparency, providing centralised visibility of activities, project oversight, and dynamic analytics. It also features a repository of best practices for effective implementation, according to an official release. In addition to the portal, Reddy inaugurated the Mineral Exploration Hackathon, which focuses on innovative mineral hunt techniques. The hackathon encourages the use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to integrate multiple mineral exploration data sets, such as baseline and available exploration data, to identify new mineral targets, especially deep-seated or concealed ore bodies. During the event, Reddy awarded certificates to eight preferred bidders from the second and third tranches of the e-auction for critical and strategic mineral blocks. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha and officials from various organisations. The launch of these initiatives marks a significant step towards leveraging technology for enhanced mineral exploration and management across the country.