Dehradun, Oct. 18 -- Uttarakhand has secured the second position in the country under Category C of the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) released by the Union Ministry of Mines, earning the state an incentive of Rs.100 crore for its performance in promoting sustainable and efficient mining practices. Officials said the SMRI is an evaluative and ranking framework introduced by the Government of India to encourage reforms, transparency, and efficiency in the mining sector. It serves as a benchmarking tool to assess how well states are prepared to facilitate mining activities, particularly for non-coal minerals. The index evaluates state performance across several parameters, including auction performance, operationalisation speed of new mines, exploration initiatives, and adoption of sustainable mining practices. To ensure fair comparison, states have been grouped into three categories based on their geological potential and mineral endowment- Category A (mineral-rich states), Category B (moderately endowed states), and Category C (lesser-endowed states). According to the latest rankings, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Tripura have emerged as the top three performers in Category C . In Category A, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat took the top three positions, while Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam led in Category B. Officials said Uttarakhand's performance reflects its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in mining governance. The Rs.100 crore incentive from the Union government will be provided under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2025-26 scheme of the Ministry of Finance, which has earmarked Rs.5,000 crore to reward states for implementing mining sector reforms. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lauded the achievement, calling it a testament to the state's proactive approach towards sustainable mining....