India launches 20 critical mineral blocks, unveils ANVESH and EKAM portals
Synopsis
India has simultaneously launched 20 critical mineral blocks for auction, 11 new exploration licences, and two digital governance portals — ANVESH and EKAM — in a single-day push at the fourth mining ministers' conference. With rare earths, graphite, and vanadium on the block, the move signals a step-up in India's race to secure its own supply of minerals critical to clean energy and defence.
Key Takeaways
The Ministry of Mines launched the 9th tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions on 6 November 2026 , offering 20 blocks across eight states .
A third tranche of exploration licence auctions covering 11 blocks across six states was also launched at the same event.
Minerals on offer include strategically important resources: rare earth elements , graphite , and vanadium .
ANVESH and EKAM , two digital portals by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) , were unveiled to improve data access and decision-making in the mining sector.
Kishan Reddy linked the mining push to the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, calling for stronger Centre–State cooperation and faster exploration.
The Ministry of Mines on 6 November 2026 launched the 9th tranche of auctions for critical and strategic mineral blocks at the fourth conference of mining ministers in New Delhi, offering 20 mineral blocks across eight states and unveiling two new digital platforms aimed at strengthening data-driven governance in the sector.
Key Launches at the Conference
The event marked a significant push on multiple fronts. Alongside the mineral block auction tranche, dignitaries also launched a third tranche of exploration licence auctions, comprising 11 exploration blocks across six states, designed to unlock the country's untapped mineral potential. The critical and strategic mineral blocks on offer include strategically vital resources such as rare earth elements, graphite, and vanadium — minerals central to clean energy technology, defence applications, and advanced manufacturing.
ANVESH and EKAM: The New Digital Portals
Two digital portals developed by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) — ANVESH and EKAM — were formally unveiled at the conference. ANVESH, which stands for Analytics and Navigation for Valuation, Evaluation and Strategic Headway in Mining, will facilitate access to and analysis of critical mining-related data, including mineral production figures, despatch volumes, sale quantities, average sale prices, and import-export flows. The portals are intended to support informed decision-making and modernise the country's mining ecosystem.
What Leaders Said
Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy underscored the strategic importance of the mining and coal sectors in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He called for strengthening domestic mineral production, accelerating exploration, promoting processing, refining, and recycling of critical minerals, adopting modern technologies, and enhancing Centre–State cooperation.
Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey highlighted the importance of effective coordination between the Centre and states, strengthening exploration activities, and addressing persistent challenges in the mining sector.
Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant emphasised the mining sector's role in Goa's economic development, advocating for sustainable mining practices and responsible resource utilisation.
Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Keshav Chandra stressed the need for active participation by states and close coordination with the Centre for effective development of the mining sector, urging stakeholders to accelerate mineral exploration and address implementation challenges.
Why This Matters for India's Mineral Security
India's push to auction critical mineral blocks comes amid a global race to secure supply chains for rare earth elements and strategic minerals essential to electric vehicles, semiconductors, and renewable energy infrastructure. This is the 9th consecutive tranche of such auctions, reflecting sustained government momentum. Notably, the concurrent launch of exploration licence auctions signals an intent to build long-term domestic supply, rather than relying solely on imports. Mining ministers from participating states also shared state-specific concerns and implementation challenges, calling for greater Central support — a signal that ground-level execution remains a live issue.
What Comes Next
The auction process for the 20 mineral blocks and 11 exploration blocks will now proceed through the established regulatory framework. The operationalisation of ANVESH and EKAM is expected to improve real-time data availability for policymakers and industry stakeholders. India's mineral security strategy will continue to be tested against the pace of exploration approvals, state-Centre coordination, and the ability to convert auctioned blocks into active production.
Point of View
But the deeper story is execution. State-level concerns raised at the conference — over coordination gaps, implementation challenges, and the pace of exploration approvals — suggest the pipeline from auction to active mine remains slow. The launch of ANVESH is a step toward data transparency, but portals alone cannot substitute for a faster regulatory clearance regime. With China controlling the bulk of global rare earth processing, India's window to build a credible domestic supply chain is real but time-bound — and the gap between auction launches and actual production output deserves more scrutiny than it typically receives.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 20 critical mineral blocks launched for auction by India?
The Indian government launched 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks across eight states as part of the 9th tranche of mineral block auctions on 6 November 2026 . The blocks cover minerals including rare earth elements, graphite, and vanadium, which are critical for clean energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing.
What is the ANVESH portal launched by the Indian Bureau of Mines?
ANVESH — short for Analytics and Navigation for Valuation, Evaluation and Strategic Headway in Mining — is a digital platform developed by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to provide access to and analysis of key mining data, including production volumes, sale prices, and import-export figures. It is designed to support informed, data-driven decision-making in the mining sector.
What is the significance of India auctioning critical mineral blocks?
Critical minerals such as rare earth elements, graphite, and vanadium are essential to electric vehicles, semiconductors, and renewable energy systems. By auctioning domestic blocks, India aims to reduce dependence on imports — particularly from China — and strengthen its long-term mineral security in line with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
How many exploration licence blocks were also launched at the conference?
Alongside the 20 mineral blocks for auction, the government launched a third tranche of exploration licence auctions covering 11 blocks across six states , aimed at accelerating the discovery and mapping of untapped mineral reserves across India.
Who attended the fourth conference of mining ministers?
The fourth mining ministers' conference was attended by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy , Minister of State Satish Chandra Dubey , Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant , Secretary Keshav Chandra , and mining ministers from multiple participating states, who also raised state-specific implementation concerns.
