**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Mines has reached a significant milestone in India’s Critical Mineral Mission by successfully auctioning a cumulative total of 56 critical mineral blocks and 11 Exploration Licence (EL) blocks. Following the Seventh Tranche of auctions launched on March 23, 2026, the government has expanded exploration into new states and secured minerals essential for strategic sectors like clean energy and defense. These initiatives aim to reduce import dependence and establish a robust domestic supply chain through increased private and public sector participation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Critical Mineral Auction Milestones**
* The Seventh Tranche saw the successful auction of 10 critical and strategic mineral blocks, bringing the national total to 56 successfully auctioned blocks.
* The government achieved an overall auction success rate of over 63%, with 56 out of 88 unique blocks auctioned to date.
* The Seventh Tranche expanded the geographical reach of exploration to Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Telangana for the first time.
* Key minerals auctioned include Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, Titanium, Glauconite, and Rock Phosphate.
**Exploration Licence (EL) Framework**
* The Ministry completed the Second Tranche of EL auctions, bringing the cumulative number of successfully auctioned EL blocks to 11.
* The EL framework was extended for the first time to Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
* The framework is designed to facilitate systematic exploration of deep-seated minerals by both private and public sector entities.
**Regulatory and Strategic Objectives**
* Auctions were conducted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015.
* The mission focuses on securing minerals vital for electric mobility, renewable energy systems, advanced manufacturing, electronics, and defense applications.
* Policy reforms are aimed at attracting investment and building a transparent, investor-friendly mineral ecosystem.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Mines and Central Government**
**Impact**
The Ministry has strengthened India’s mineral security and made significant progress toward the goals of the National Critical Mineral Mission.
**Action Required**
Continue to expand exploration opportunities and maintain the transparent, efficient auctioning regime to attract further investment.
**State Governments (including Gujarat, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha)**
**Impact**
These states are newly integrated into the critical mineral and exploration license frameworks, opening doors for local mineral development and revenue.
**Action Required**
Provide continued support and cooperation to the Ministry and technical agencies to ensure the success of the auction programs.
**Private and Public Sector Industry Stakeholders**
**Impact**
Industry players gain access to a robust pipeline of critical and strategic mineral assets and new opportunities for deep-seated mineral exploration.
**Action Required**
Participate in the systematic exploration and development of auctioned blocks to strengthen domestic supply chains and support strategic economic sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
National Critical Mineral Mission: The overarching strategic initiative aimed at strengthening India's critical mineral security, exploration ecosystem, and domestic supply chains.
Ministry of Mines: The nodal ministry responsible for conducting the auction tranches for critical mineral blocks and the Exploration Licence framework.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The principal legislation under which the auction and development of critical and strategic mineral blocks are conducted.
Exploration Licence (EL) framework: A specialized auction regime designed to facilitate participation from private and public sector entities for the systematic exploration of deep-seated minerals.
Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015: The regulatory framework governing the procedural requirements and provisions for conducting mineral block auctions.
Ministry of Mines
India’s Critical Mineral Mission Gains Momentum:
56 Critical Mineral Blocks and 11 Exploration
Licence Blocks Successfully Auctioned
प्रव तथ: 23 JUN 2026 4:31PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Mines has achieved significant milestones in strengthening India’s critical mineral security
and exploration ecosystem with the successful completion of recent auction tranches for critical and
strategic mineral blocks. These successful auctions have taken the total number of critical and strategic
mineral blocks successfully auctioned to 56, marking a significant step towards strengthening domestic
mineral supply chains and advancing India’s critical mineral mission.
The Ministry of Mines successfully auctioned 10 critical and strategic mineral blocks under the Seventh
Tranche conducted by the Central Government, taking the total number of successfully auctioned critical
and strategic mineral blocks to 56. This represents a successful auction rate of over 63%, with 56 blocks
auctioned out of 88 unique mineral blocks taken up for auction by the Central Government.
The Seventh Tranche marked a significant expansion of India’s critical mineral exploration landscape,
with critical mineral blocks auctioned for the first time in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Telangana by the
Central Government. The tranche included minerals such as Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE),
Vanadium, Titanium, Glauconite, Rock Phosphate and associated minerals, further widening the
geographical reach of critical mineral exploration in the country.
The Seventh Tranche of auctions was launched through the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) issued on March
23, 2026, offering 19 mineral blocks comprising 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, as amended from time to time.
Alongside critical mineral auctions, the Ministry successfully completed the Second Tranche of
Exploration Licence (EL) auctions, further strengthening India’s exploration ecosystem. The 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, opening new opportunities for exploration of
critical and deep-seated minerals.
With the successful completion of the second tranche, the cumulative number of Exploration Licence
blocks successfully auctioned by the Central Government has reached 11 since the introduction of the EL
auction regime. The Exploration Licence framework enables systematic exploration of critical and deep-
seated minerals by facilitating participation from private and public sector entities.
The continued success of critical mineral and Exploration Licence auctions reflects the growing
confidence of industry stakeholders in India’s mineral sector and highlights the impact of policy reforms
undertaken by the Government to promote systematic exploration, attract investment and strengthen
domestic mineral supply chains.These initiatives will 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 completion of these auction tranches reinforces the Government’s commitment towards
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.
Ministry of Mines expresses its appreciation to all participating bidders, State Governments, technical
agencies and other stakeholders for their support and cooperation in making the auction programme a
success. The Ministry remains committed to expanding exploration opportunities and building a
transparent, efficient and investor-friendly mineral ecosystem in the country.
***
Prajith Kumar M.V.
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2277041) आगंतुक पटल : 888
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