The Ministry of Mines, Government of India, is organizing a roadshow on the 8th Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks along with a Workshop on the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) on August 17, 2026, in Patna, Bihar. The event will be chaired by Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, with participation from Shri Samrat Choudhary, Chief Minister of Bihar, and Dr Pramod Kumar, Mines Minister of Bihar, along with senior officials from Ministry of Mines, Government of Bihar, Geological Survey of India (GSI), Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), industry representatives, and prospective investors.
The 8th Tranche auction comprises 20 mineral blocks, including 3 Mining Lease blocks and 17 Composite Licence blocks. These blocks contain critical and strategic minerals such as Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Rare Metals, Vanadium, Gallium, Titanium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Potash, Phosphorite, and Glauconite.
The roadshow will provide investors with an overview of the mineral potential of the blocks, auction framework, bidding process, and investment opportunities. Detailed presentations will be made by MECL on the mineral blocks, SBICAPS on the mineral auction process and tender document, and MSTC on the e-auction process. The program will also include a presentation on the NMEDT Scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration expenses for Composite Licence holders, followed by an open-house discussion to address stakeholder queries.
The second half features a Workshop on Mineral Exploration: Planning, Execution and Reporting, covering India's mineral exploration potential, the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR), preparation of exploration blocks using NGDR, and preparation of mineral exploration reports, with technical sessions by senior GSI officers. This initiative supports the government's efforts to promote exploration, accelerate development of critical mineral resources, enhance private-sector participation, and strengthen India's mineral security under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision for minerals essential for emerging technologies, clean energy, and strategic sectors.