The Ministry of Mines will organise the National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Summit 2026 on 23–24 March 2026 in New Delhi. The summit will focus on the effective and outcome-oriented use of DMF funds in mining-affected districts, especially in Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) areas. It is intended to improve coordination among governments and identify policy reforms for better planning, implementation, monitoring and impact assessment.
Purpose of the Summit
The summit is titled Effective Utilization of District Mineral Funds for ADP/ABP Areas. It will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Coal and Mines in the presence of senior ministry officials. The main objective is to strengthen the use of DMF resources for inclusive development in districts affected by mining.
Consultative Process Before the Summit
The Ministry of Mines has already carried out a structured consultation exercise with States and districts. A concept note was shared with DMF States, 306 DMF districts in ADP/ABP areas, and NITI Aayog. This was followed by virtual national consultations and State-level internal deliberations involving district administrations and line departments. States later submitted consolidated inputs on challenges, recommendations and successful DMF interventions.
Key Themes for Deliberation
The summit will examine:
- Governance and transparency in DMF spending.
- Convergence with national development programmes.
- Monitoring and performance-based outcomes.
- Impact assessment of DMF-funded projects.
- Best practices in district-level planning.
Exhibition and Development Priorities
A DMF exhibition will be held alongside the summit to showcase successful projects from different States. The displayed initiatives will cover health, nutrition, water supply, education, skill development, livelihoods, renewable energy and infrastructure. The summit is expected to build consensus on reform priorities and improve the use of DMF funds for sustainable development in mining-affected and aspirational areas.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026