Ministry of Mines Critical Mineral Auction Achievements
The Ministry of Mines has achieved significant milestones in India's critical mineral security through successful auction tranches. The Central Government has successfully auctioned 56 critical and strategic mineral blocks out of 88 unique blocks taken up for auction, representing a successful auction rate of over 63%.
In the Seventh Tranche conducted by the Central Government, 10 critical and strategic mineral blocks were auctioned, marking the first-time auction of critical mineral blocks in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Telangana. This tranche, launched through a Notice Inviting Tender issued on March 23, 2026, offered 19 mineral blocks comprising minerals such as Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, Titanium, Glauconite, Rock Phosphate and associated minerals. The auctions were conducted under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015, as amended from time to time.
Concurrently, the Ministry successfully completed the Second Tranche of Exploration Licence (EL) auctions, bringing the cumulative number of Exploration Licence blocks successfully auctioned by the Central Government to 11 since the introduction of the EL auction regime. This second tranche marked the expansion of the Exploration Licence framework to Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha for the first time by the Central Government.
The Exploration Licence framework enables systematic exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals by facilitating participation from private and public sector entities. These initiatives are designed to accelerate the exploration and development of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies, electric mobility, renewable energy systems, advanced manufacturing, electronics, defence applications, and other strategic sectors of the economy.
The successful auctions reflect growing industry confidence in India's mineral sector and highlight the impact of policy reforms undertaken by the Government to promote systematic exploration, attract investment, and strengthen domestic mineral supply chains. These efforts reinforce the Government's commitment to achieving the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission, promoting private sector participation, reducing import dependence, and creating a robust pipeline of critical and strategic mineral assets for the nation.