New Delhi, June 23: The Ministry of Mines has achieved significant milestones in strengthening India’s mineral security and exploration system with the successful completion of recent auctions for critical and strategic mineral blocks. With these successful auctions, the total number of successfully auctioned mineral blocks has reached 56, marking a crucial step towards enhancing domestic mineral supply chains and advancing India’s mineral mission.
Under the seventh phase organized by the central government, 10 critical and strategic mineral blocks were successfully auctioned, bringing the total number of successfully auctioned blocks to 56. This reflects a successful auction rate of over 63%, with 56 out of 88 unique mineral blocks offered by the central government being auctioned.
The seventh phase has significantly expanded the landscape of mineral exploration in India, with the central government auctioning critical mineral blocks for the first time in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Telangana. This phase included graphite, rare earth elements (REE), vanadium, titanium, glauconite, rock phosphate, and related minerals, further broadening the geographical scope of critical mineral exploration in the country.
The seventh phase of the auction commenced with the issuance of the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) on March 23, 2026, offering 19 mineral blocks containing critical and strategic minerals. The auction was conducted under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015, which have been amended periodically.
In addition to the mineral auctions, the ministry successfully completed the second phase of exploration license (EL) auctions, further strengthening India’s exploration framework. With this second phase, the central government has expanded the exploration license framework for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha, opening new opportunities for exploring minerals located in critical and deep reserves.
With the successful completion of the second phase, the total number of exploration license blocks auctioned by the central government has reached 11. This number has now reached 11 since the inception of the auction system. The exploration license framework enables systematic exploration of minerals present in critical and deep reserves by facilitating participation from private and public sector entities.
The ongoing success of the auctions for critical minerals and exploration licenses reflects the growing confidence of industry stakeholders in India’s mineral sector. It highlights the impact of government policy reforms aimed at promoting systematic exploration, attracting investment, and strengthening domestic mineral supply chains.
These initiatives will accelerate the search and development of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies, electric mobility, renewable energy systems, advanced manufacturing, electronics, defense applications, and other strategic sectors of the economy.
The successful completion of these auction phases reinforces the government’s commitment to achieving the objectives of the National Mineral Mission, promoting private sector participation, reducing import dependence, and creating a robust chain of critical and strategic mineral assets for the country.
The Ministry of Mines expresses gratitude to all participating bidders, state governments, technical agencies, and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support in making the auction program successful. The ministry is committed to expanding exploration opportunities in the country and building a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly mineral ecosystem.
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