THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JULY 14, 2026

In a significant push to strengthen India's critical mineral security and attract fresh investments into the mining sector, the Ministry of Mines will launch the Eighth Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks on July 15, 2026, expanding the country's drive to secure resources vital for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and national security.

The auction will be formally launched by Union Minister for Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy in New Delhi in the presence of Minister of State for Coal & Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, senior ministry officials and other dignitaries.

The latest tranche comprises 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks spread across nine states, including 13 newly identified blocks and seven blocks being re-auctioned under the second attempt. The portfolio covers a diverse range of high-value minerals, including Lithium, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Gallium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Titanium, Molybdenum, Graphite, Glauconite, Phosphorite, Potash, Cesium and Rubidium—minerals that are increasingly essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, defence, electronics, fertilisers and other strategic industries.

The latest auction follows a strong track record by the Ministry of Mines. Across the previous seven tranches, the government has successfully auctioned 56 of the 88 critical and strategic mineral blocks put up for bidding, recording a success rate of more than 63%. The consistent industry participation underscores growing investor confidence in the government's transparent, competitive and market-driven auction framework while advancing India's long-term strategy to secure critical mineral supplies for economic growth, technological innovation and the clean energy transition.

The mining sector also registered a landmark achievement during FY 2025-26, with 212 mineral blocks successfully auctioned—the highest ever in a single financial year since the auction regime was introduced. Of these, 22 were critical and strategic mineral blocks, highlighting the government's sustained focus on strengthening domestic availability of minerals that are vital for emerging technologies and strategic industries.

Further improving the investment ecosystem, the government has recently notified amendments to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2026 to simplify and accelerate the auction process. The reforms streamline timelines for upfront payments, provide greater flexibility in executing Mining Lease and Prospecting Licence deeds, and enable quicker refunds of bid security, performance security and other payments where auctions are annulled for reasons not attributable to the preferred or successful bidder.

The latest policy measures are expected to enhance ease of doing business, strengthen investor confidence and fast-track the operationalisation of auctioned mineral assets, reinforcing India's ambition to build resilient domestic supply chains for critical minerals.