Review of Rule “Minerals Survey (Allowance and
Privilege), 2024(1967)”
Siddhant pandey, Department of Civil Engineering
Abstract
In the country like Nepal, Mineral survey is valuable aspect
for exploring different places and to bring out it in
highlights. As the administrative officers and workers plays
significant role in any kinds of survey, there wages should
be reasonable. So, considering the proper services for
workers and officer, Nepal government passed the Mineral
survey rule, 2024 which includes the allowances and
special privilege for workers and officers. The appraisal of
Rule, as well as its criticism, are included in the following
review.
Index Words: Mineral survey, Mineral survey rule,
Allowances, Privilege
Review and background
Nepal passed the Minerals and Survey (Allowance and
privilege) rule in 1967 AD, under the rule of late King
Mahendra. It has undergone two amendment till date. One in
the year 2003 AD under the rule of King Gyanendra and
another amendment was done in the year 2013 after Nepal
became Republic. The Minerals survey (Allowance and
Privilege) rule has 8 sections which are also revised later in
amendment 2003 and 2013. In carrying out the authority
granted by Section 2 of the Administrative Procedure
(Regulation) Act, 2013, the Nepalese government has
enacted this minerals rule which are divided into 8 sections.
Each section of this rule is important and vital.
 Section 1 is the introduction of the rule, it denotes
the title, extent and commencement of the rule.
Under the sub section of section 1, it specifies that
the rule is applicable only for minerals survey and
also said that the rule should came into action
immediately.
 Section 2 includes the definition of minerals survey
and various considerable terms and positions that
are linked with this survey like minerals exploration
team, team leader, wage labor, topographical map,
mineral exploration office, department and director
general.
 Section 2(A) is the rule added by the first
amendment, which states about the approval to be
taken for the minerals survey. It is clearly indicated
1
that the team leader should prepare all the estimates
of the labor, equipment, goods and all the expenses
and shall start the survey by taking approval from
Director General.
 Section 3 declares that the additional labor could be
added by providing certain wages. Sub section 3(1)
indicates that the team leader can hire types of
workers according to schedule-1 and the number of
worker should not be more than as mentioned in
schedule-2 by the approval of director general.
Moreover, the number of wage laborers required for
a greater elevation than three thousand meters or in
Remote Mountain areas where laborers are scarce
shall be determined by the Director General itself.
Sub section 3(2) indicates that the workers selected
according to 3(1) should perform activities as
directed be team leader and team leader should
manage that the each porter should carry loads not
less the 30 kilograms. Sub section 3(3) gives the
direction for trenching and pitting that the person
involving in it should dig at least 0.5 cubic meters
and should cut 5cm in depth and should cut 0.5 m
stone having 10 cm width per day.
 Section 4 is the rule amended in the first amendment
indicating the remuneration of the wages of labors.
According to rule 3 the team leader should give
wages to the workers as determined by local
authorities/bodies.
 Section 5 covey the special privilege of daily and
travelling allowance. Under the sub section 5(1) and
5(2) if the person involving in mineral survey
should have to stay at night or if have to travel than
he/she will get allowance according to it. Sub
section 5(3) is the amended section in 2013 which
reveals that the workers involved in mineral survey
should get travel allowance according to their
distance travelled.1
 Section 5(A) is the amended section by the first
amendment. Under this section it is informed that
the equipment’s that are needed in the minerals
survey need to be provided according to schedule-
3.
 Section 6 includes the additional services provided
to the workers like the worker may get additional
 allowance according to scheldule-4 as per difficulty
level of work done. Moreover the workers may get
there sewing charge of clothes and shoes facility at
the end of year according to scheldule-5. Team
leader may take allowance as advance as per
requirement.
 Under the section 7 it is indicated that the director
general may give advance to the team leader or may
give money as per time requirement. This rule was
amended during first amendment.
 Section 8 indicates that the administrative officers
and the team leader appointed by the director
general should prepare the detail report regarding
total survey and should submit it under the
supervision of team leader. Moreover if there may
be any problems regarding economic analysis, the
administrative officers and team leader shall be
responsible for it.
 Section 8(A) was added by first amendment and
under this section it is notified that the schedule
provided may change as per government of Nepal
notices.
Besides these sections, there are 5 schedule provided at the
end of rule which provide the information about the types of
worker, number of workers according to work, allowance to
be provided as per work, dress to be provided to workers.
Appreciation/Criticism
The rule “Minerals survey (Allowances and privilege),
2024” was introduced mainly to provide rules against the
provision of allowances and privilege to the workers that are
directly or indirectly involve in the survey. The rule clearly
provide the information regarding minerals survey and also
indicates what types of administrative officers and workers
are needed for the survey. Moreover, the number of workers,
their allowances, travelling expenses, types and number of
equipment needed for the survey, and role of Director
Generals, administrative officers, team leaders, and the
workers are clearly indicated in the rule.
The main objectives behind passing this rule are:
 To provide information regarding minerals
survey and the significant terms used in the
survey like director general, team leader,
waged workers, mineral survey office,
topographical maps, departments, etc.
 To provide information regarding how one
can get approved for the minerals survey.
 To provide information regarding the
number of workers needed according to
the type of work and allowances and other
privilege to be provided to them.
 To assure that the equipment’s that are
required for the minerals survey would be
2
available through department of minerals
exploration.
 To provide various services and privilege
to the workers and officers.
The main criticism and appreciation of the mineral survey
(allowances and privilege) rule, 2024 are:
 Under the section 3 of the rule, it is
indicated that the workers can be hired as
per requirements, but in the rule it is not
indicated about the age group of the
workers. The team leaders must hire the
workers without violating the law
regarding the child labor in the
constitution of Nepal. The Child
Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,
2000 regulates hours of work
for children aged 14-16 (not more than
thirty-six hours per week) and prohibits
the employment of children younger than
16 years of age into hazardous work.2
 Under the sub section 2 of section 3, it is
informed that the workers or labors should
carry at least 30 kg of weight. But
according to the research in UK, the
person should carry at most 25 kg of
weight. Moreover, there should be
provision of training of workers regarding
weight lifting and other. There is no such
section mentioned in the rule regarding the
training of the workers.3
 Under the section 3, it is included that the
workers might be hired by giving
allowances to them, moreover they can get
extra allowances and privilege as per there
travelling and difficulty of works
performed. This rule is quite appreciable,
furthermore to boost the efficiency of
workers the team leader should motivate
them and provide extra foods like meat,
liquors, etc.
 Mineral (Development & Regulations)
(MMDR) (Amendment) Act of India,
promotes the double production of
minerals in the regular 5 years of interval
with resultant reduction in import
dependence, by allocating and regulating
minerals in transparent and sustainable
manner, and promotes the active
participation of labors by providing them
good allowances and privilege. So in
Nepal also such initiation should be done.4
Conclusion:

Even though performance of Nepalese economy is not

exceedingly dependent on mining, as is the case in some
Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, mining
continues to be an important sector of Nepalese economy.

Exploring the country for the availability of minerals and

resources is one of the integral part of any nation. Minerals
are the sources of production of different materials that are
used in day to day life. The workers and officers that are
involved in mineral survey are the are the key players in the
minerals survey, So for the good allowances and special
privilege to them, this rule was brought in the year 2024 AD
which later on was amended two times in 2003 AD and 2013
AD.

References
1. Mineral survey (allowances and privilege) rule.
Minerals Survey ( Allowance and Privilege ).
2013;2024:1-12.
2. Title S. Child Labor ( Prohibition and Regulation )
Act , 2056 ( 2000 ). 2000;2056(1):1-13.
3. Fylde Coast Marketing. What is the maximum
weight limit I can lift at work? Beckett & Co
Solicitors. Published 2016. Accessed June 13, 2021.
https://www.beckettandco.co.uk/manual-handling-
faq-weight/
4. Delhi NEW. THE MINES AND MINERALS
(DEVELOPMENTAND REGULATION)
AMENDMENTACT, 2021. 2013;(Dl):1-16.