New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) The mineral industry in India has reached a remarkable achievement in the fiscal year 2025–26, successfully auctioning 200 mineral blocks, marking the highest number ever auctioned in a single year, as per the announcement made by the Ministry of Mines on Thursday.

The auctions encompassed a diverse array of minerals.

Limestone dominated the auctions with 76 blocks, making it the most sought-after mineral, followed by iron ore with 40 blocks. Bauxite also featured prominently with 30 blocks, highlighting their critical role in essential industrial sectors.

A standout feature of this year was the auctioning of 22 critical mineral blocks, which underscores the growing emphasis on minerals deemed strategically important for long-term resource stability.

States like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Maharashtra were pivotal in this initiative, contributing five, four, four, three, and two blocks, respectively,” the statement revealed.

Among the 200 auctioned blocks, 123 are Mining Lease (ML) blocks and 77 are Composite Licence (CL) blocks, indicating a healthy balance between operational and exploration-centric opportunities. Furthermore, Notices Inviting Tenders for 70 mineral blocks (38 ML and 32 CL) are currently in progress, which is anticipated to further elevate the count of successful auctions in this financial year,” the statement elaborated.

This record feat demonstrates the robust collaborative efforts between the Union and state governments and showcases the evolving maturity of India's auction-based mineral allocation system, the statement noted.

The Ministry of Mines commended the significant contributions made by the states towards this achievement.

Gujarat led the way with 32 blocks, followed by Rajasthan with 30 blocks, and Tamil Nadu with 22 blocks, emerging as the top contributors. Their proactive approach in timely block preparation, effective data management, and procedural efficiency has fortified the national auction ecosystem.

Notably, Tamil Nadu has successfully conducted mineral block auctions for the first time, marking a significant milestone, while Uttarakhand has also joined the mineral auction framework with the successful sale of its first magnesite block,” the statement added.

The Ministry of Mines stated that the proactive measures, supportive policies, and administrative efficiency of state governments were instrumental in achieving this record outcome.

This milestone further affirms India's commitment to establishing a transparent, efficient, and future-ready mineral allocation system that promotes sustained economic growth.