Global Innovation Index & National Mineral Exploration Policy (GII & NMEP): Important Topics for UPSC Exams

Global Innovation Index

The annual ranking of countries based on their capacity for and success in innovation.
It aims to arrest the multi-dimensional facets of innovation and offer the tools that can help in formulating policies to promote long-term output growth, improved productivity, and job growth.
The GII helps in creating sustainable innovation environment.

Prepared by Ministry of Mines, approved by the Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister.
Expected to fuel investment in the exploration sector from both domestic and foreign investors and further bring in the best in class practices in the mining sector.
Competitive bidding of the mineral block through the process of e-auction on the revenue sharing model.
The state government will be responsible for identifying mineral blocks for bidding.

To uncover full potential and put nation's mineral resources (non-fuel and non-coal) to the best use and thereby maximising sectoral contribution to the Indian economy

Making public baseline geoscientific data of world standards
Quality research in a public-private partnership
Special initiatives for search of deep-seated and concealed deposits,
Quick aero-geophysical surveys of the country,
Creation of a dedicated geoscience database
Establishment of a not-for-profit autonomous institution, National Centre for Mineral Targeting (NCMT), to address the mineral exploration challenges.
Reimbursement of the exploration expenditure on the normative cost basis, if no mineral reserves are found.