Any operations undertaken for the purpose of exploring,

Solution

Section 2 of THE MINES AND MINERALS (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) ACT, 1957 -       mining operations means any operations undertaken for the purpose of winning any mineral -       prospecting operations means any operations undertaken for the purpose of exploring, locating or proving mineral deposit -       reconnaissance operations means any operations undertaken for preliminary prospecting of a mineral through regional, aerial, geophysical or geochemical surveys and geological mapping, but does not include pitting, trenching, drilling (except drilling of boreholes on a grid specified from time to time by the Central Government) or sub-surface excavation