Centre launches ninth auction tranche for 20 critical mineral blocks, third round of exploration licences

New Delhi: The mines ministry on Thursday launched the ninth tranche of e-auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks, together with the third tranche of the auction for grant of exploration licence blocks.

In this tranche, 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks are being put up for auction under the provisions of the Mineral Auction Rules. In the previous eight tranches, 100 unique critical and strategic mineral blocks were offered, of which 64 have been successfully auctioned.

The blocks on offer include a diverse portfolio of strategically important minerals which are critical for sectors such as clean energy technologies, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, fertilisers, defence, aerospace, electronics, and other strategic industries, thereby strengthening India's mineral security and supporting the country's energy transition.


The ministry also launched the third tranche of the auction for grant of exploration licence.

Exploration of licences enables private investment in the exploration of 29 critical and deep-seated minerals specified in the seventh schedule of the Act, opening exploration to private industry even before mining begins. So far, 11 exploration blocks have been successfully auctioned in two tranches.

The government has notified the mineral (Auction) Third Amendment Rules, 2026 on 16 October 2026, reducing the minimum number of technically qualified bidders required for the second round from three to two for part-D minerals.