India Launches Auction of 20 Critical Strategic Mineral Blocks in 8th Tranche

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, along with Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, jointly launched the e-auction of the 8th tranche of critical strategic mineral blocks during the inaugural event of India Mining Week 2026. This tranche aims to strengthen India's critical mineral security, reduce import dependence, and build resilient supply chains for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defense, aerospace, and other sectors.

In his address, Shri G. Kishan Reddy noted that India Mining Week is a premier platform bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, technology providers, and academia. He emphasized that the launch of the 8th tranche reflects the government's commitment to continuously strengthen mineral security, attract investment, and unlock mineral potential, aiming to build a globally competitive and future-ready mining ecosystem. Shri Satish Chandra Dubey stated that mining is a key pillar of nation-building and energy security, and the government is driving transparency, efficiency, and sustainable growth through reforms such as commercial mining, digital governance, and expanded private sector participation.

Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, Shri Piyush Goyal, revealed that the 8th tranche includes 20 critical strategic mineral blocks spanning 9 states, bringing the total number of critical mineral blocks offered in India to 88, of which 56 have been successfully auctioned. Among the 20 blocks in this tranche, 13 are newly identified mineral blocks and 7 are blocks offered in a second attempt under the Mineral (Auction) Rules. These blocks contain strategic minerals essential for clean energy technologies, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, fertilizers, defense, aerospace, and the electronics industry.

The auction will be conducted online through a transparent two-stage ascending forward bidding process, with winners selected based on the highest percentage of the value of mineral dispatches quoted. Sale of bid documents began on July 15, 2026, with the deadline for purchasing bid documents set for September 14, 2026 (17:00 IST), and the bid submission deadline is September 21, 2026 (17:00 IST).