The Union Ministry of Mines on Thursday, 5 November 2026, launched the ninth tranche of e-auctions for critical and strategic mineral blocks, putting up 20 new blocks for bidding alongside the third tranche of the Grant of Exploration Licence (EL) auction. Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy officiated the launch, with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attending as chief guest.

What Is on the Block

The 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks span eight states. Chhattisgarh accounts for the highest share with five blocks, while Rajasthan, Telangana, and West Bengal contribute three blocks each. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have two blocks each, and Bihar and Andhra Pradesh hold one block each.

The blocks contain minerals including graphite, vanadium, gallium, titanium, tungsten, and scandium — raw materials that underpin clean energy technologies, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, fertilisers, defence, aerospace, and electronics, according to an official statement.

Progress So Far

Across the previous eight tranches, the government had offered 100 unique critical and strategic mineral blocks, of which 64 have been successfully auctioned. The ninth tranche therefore represents the first expansion of the pipeline beyond that initial century of blocks, underscoring the Centre's intent to accelerate India's mineral security agenda.

On the exploration front, 11 EL blocks have been successfully auctioned across two earlier tranches. Exploration Licences, introduced through Section 10BA of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, allow private investors to fund exploration of 29 critical and deep-seated minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule — enabling private capital to enter the cycle before mining commences.

Key Rule Changes to Ease Participation

The government notified the Mineral (Auction) Third Amendment Rules, 2026 on 16 October 2026, cutting the minimum number of Technically Qualified Bidders required for the second round from three to two for Part D minerals. Officials say this directly addresses one of the primary reasons blocks have gone unsold in past rounds. Additionally, Letters of Intent will now be issued automatically through the Unified Mining Portal, streamlining post-auction processes.

These changes build on earlier reforms, including the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 and the introduction of Insurance Surety Bonds, both aimed at improving ease of doing business and investor confidence in the sector.

Auction Timelines and Process

Sale of tender documents commenced on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The last date for purchase of tender documents is 1 January 2027 by 5 pm IST, and bids — both Technical Bid and Initial Price Offer — must be submitted by 7 January 2027.

Critical mineral composite licence and mining lease blocks will be auctioned via a two-stage ascending forward auction, with the highest revenue-share bidder winning. Exploration Licence blocks follow a two-stage descending reverse auction, where the bidder quoting the lowest percentage share of a future lessee's revenue prevails. All auctions are conducted through the MSTC e-auction platform.

With the global race to secure critical mineral supply chains intensifying, India's expanding auction pipeline positions the country to reduce import dependence and anchor domestic clean-energy and defence manufacturing over the coming decade.