10 New Strategic Mineral Blocks Auctioned Successfully

On June 23, 2026, the Central Government successfully auctioned 10 critical and strategic mineral blocks under the seventh tranche of auctions, taking the total number of successfully auctioned blocks to 56.

Out of 88 mineral blocks offered across seven auction rounds, 56 have been successfully awarded, reflecting a completion rate of over 63%. The latest tranche also marked an expansion of India’s critical mineral exploration footprint, with auctions conducted for the first time in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Telangana.

The auctioned mineral blocks include key strategic resources such as graphite, rare earth elements (REE), vanadium, titanium, glauconite, rock phosphate, and associated minerals, aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains for sectors critical to India’s energy transition and industrial growth. According to the Ministry of Mines, this milestone represents a significant step forward in advancing India’s critical mineral mission and improving resource security.

The seventh tranche, initiated through a Notice Inviting Tender dated March 23, 2026, comprised 19 mineral blocks. In addition, the government concluded the second round of exploration licence auctions, extending exploration activities to Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha, thereby broadening the scope for discovery of critical and deep-seated mineral resources.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.