India Auctions 56 Critical Mineral Blocks, Boosting Supply Security

India’s Critical Mineral Mission continues to gain momentum, with the Ministry of Mines successfully auctioning 56 critical and strategic mineral blocks so far. Out of 88 unique blocks offered by the Central Government, 56 have been successfully auctioned, translating into a success rate of over 63%.

In the 7th tranche of auctions, 10 critical and strategic mineral blocks were successfully auctioned. The tranche offered 19 blocks and included minerals such as Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, Titanium, Glauconite, and Rock Phosphate.

For the first time, critical mineral blocks were auctioned by the Central Government in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Telangana, expanding India’s critical mineral development footprint.

The Ministry also completed the 2nd tranche of Exploration Licence (EL) auctions, taking the total number of successfully auctioned EL blocks to 11 since the framework was introduced.

The EL framework was expanded for the first time to Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha, supporting exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals.

These minerals are essential for electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy, electronics, advanced manufacturing, and defence, helping India strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce import dependence.