Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, along with Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines, launched the Eighth Tranche of e-auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks during the Curtain Raiser event of India Mining Week 2026. The launch marks another significant milestone in the Government’s efforts to strengthen India’s critical mineral security, reduce import dependence and build resilient supply chains for minerals essential to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, aerospace and other strategic sectors. The event was attended by senior officials of the Government of India, representatives of State Governments, industry leaders, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), think tanks, prospective bidders and members of the media.

 

Addressing the gathering, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, said that India Mining Week marks the beginning of a premier platform bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, technology providers and academia to accelerate the growth of India’s mining sector. He highlighted that the launch of the Eighth Tranche of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks reflects the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening mineral security, attracting investments and unlocking India’s mineral potential to build a globally competitive and future-ready mining ecosystem.

Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines, said that mining is a key pillar of nation-building, energy security and Viksit Bharat. He highlighted the transformative reforms in the sector, including commercial mining, digital governance and greater private sector participation, which are driving transparency, efficiency and sustainable growth while ensuring that the benefits of mining contribute to the development of local communities.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, said that India Mining Week is envisioned as an annual global platform to showcase India’s mining potential, encourage technology adoption and foster partnerships among governments, industry and investors. He highlighted that the eighth tranche comprises 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks across nine States, taking the total number of critical mineral blocks offered to 88, of which 56 have already been successfully auctioned, reflecting growing industry confidence in India’s reform-driven mining sector

Under the Eighth Tranche, 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks were put up for auction, comprising 13 newly identified mineral blocks and 7 mineral blocks offered under the Second Attempt in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral (Auction) Rules.

Details of blocks put up for auction:

State	Number of Blocks	Minerals
Andhra Pradesh	2	Molybdenum, Graphite
Bihar	3	Glauconite, Vanadium-bearing Magnetite-Ilmenite
Chhattisgarh	5	Glauconite, Vanadium, Gallium, Titanium, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Bauxite, Aluminous Laterite, Phosphorite and Limestone
Maharashtra	2	Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, Gallium, Titanium, Bauxite and Aluminous Laterite
Odisha	3	Vanadium, Titanium, Manganese and Graphite
Punjab	1	Potash and Halite
Rajasthan	2	Potash and Halite, Tungsten
Telangana	1	Titanium, Vanadium, Gallium and Aluminous Laterite
West Bengal	1	Rare Metal (Lithium, Cesium and Rubidium)

 

The blocks offered under this tranche comprise a diverse portfolio of strategically important minerals that are critical for clean energy technologies, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, fertilizers, defence, aerospace, electronics and other strategic industries. Their auction is expected to strengthen India's mineral security, reduce import dependence and support the country's long-term industrial growth and energy transition.

The sale of Tender Documents commenced on 15 July 2026. The last date for purchase of the Tender Documents is 14 September 2026 (17:00 hrs IST), while the last date for submission of bids (Technical Bid and Initial Price Offer) is 21 September 2026 (17:00 hrs IST).

The auction will be conducted online through a transparent two-stage ascending forward auction process, with the preferred bidder being selected on the basis of the highest percentage of the value of mineral dispatched quoted. Detailed information on the blocks, auction terms and timelines is available on the MSTC e-auction platform.

https://www.mstcecommerce.com/auctionhome/mlcln/

With the launch of the Eighth Tranche, the Ministry of Mines has further strengthened the pipeline of critical and strategic mineral blocks available for exploration and mining. The initiative reinforces the Government's commitment to enhancing domestic mineral security, promoting private sector participation and building a resilient, self-reliant and globally competitive mineral sector in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

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