THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 11, 2026

In a major push to deepen mineral exploration and secure India’s long-term resource base, the Ministry of Mines will launch the second tranche of Exploration Licence (EL) block auctions on February 12 at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute (CSOI), New Delhi.

The launch, to be held in the presence of Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, senior ministry officials, representatives of state governments, and industry stakeholders, marks another milestone in the Centre’s reform agenda aimed at strengthening mineral security — particularly for critical and deep-seated minerals vital to clean energy, electronics, defence and high-end manufacturing.

The second tranche builds on the momentum generated by the first round of EL auctions rolled out in March 2025 in Goa. The inaugural tranche comprised 13 Exploration Licence blocks covering key critical minerals such as Rare Earth Elements (REE), Zinc, Diamond, Copper and Platinum Group Elements (PGE). The move signalled a structural shift towards greater private sector participation in early-stage mineral exploration.

A key highlight of the upcoming event will be the unveiling of the Next Generation Digital Portal of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Designed as a cloud-enabled, integrated platform, the portal brings together data acquisition, analysis, visualisation and dissemination under one digital architecture. Equipped with AI and Machine Learning-based tools and interoperable with the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR), the system is expected to significantly enhance transparency, efficiency and data-driven decision-making across the mineral exploration ecosystem.

Officials said the digital platform will streamline access to geoscientific data, reduce information asymmetry, and provide explorers with actionable insights — potentially accelerating investment decisions and reducing exploration risks.

To ensure wider industry participation, the Ministry has planned a comprehensive roadshow programme alongside the launch. The outreach will familiarise stakeholders with the Exploration Licence framework, auction methodology and incentives available to explorers. Detailed presentations will cover the e-auction process through the MSTC portal, applicable auction rules, and the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) scheme, which offers partial reimbursement of eligible exploration expenditure. An open house session will also be conducted to address stakeholder queries and gather feedback.