The Ministry of Mines will launch the Eighth Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks on July 15, 2026, in New Delhi. Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey will preside over the launch event along with senior ministry officials.
The auction comprises 20 mineral blocks spread across nine states, consisting of 13 newly identified blocks and 7 blocks being offered under second attempt. The mineral portfolio includes Molybdenum, Graphite, Glauconite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, Gallium, Titanium, Tungsten, Phosphorite, Potash, Lithium, Cesium, and Rubidium. These minerals are critically important for clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, fertilisers, defence applications, and other strategic sectors.
With seven previous tranches completed, the Ministry has successfully auctioned 56 out of 88 critical and strategic mineral blocks taken up for auction, achieving a success rate of over 63%. The strong industry response across successive auction rounds reflects growing investor confidence in the government's transparent, competitive, and market-driven auction framework. This reinforces India's efforts to secure critical mineral resources essential for economic growth, technological advancement, and the clean energy transition.
The mineral sector achieved a historic milestone in FY 2025–26 with 212 mineral blocks successfully auctioned, the highest number in any financial year since the commencement of the auction regime. This included 22 critical and strategic mineral blocks, reaffirming the government's commitment to securing these vital resources.
The government recently notified amendments to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2026 to further streamline the auction process. The reforms rationalise timelines for payment of the upfront amount, provide greater flexibility in the execution of Mining Lease and Prospecting Licence deeds, and facilitate timely refund of bid security, performance security, and other payments where auctions are annulled for reasons not attributable to the preferred or successful bidder. These measures are aimed at improving ease of doing business, enhancing investor confidence, and accelerating the operationalisation of auctioned mineral blocks.