NEW DELHI, 6th Nov: India has opened another front in its push for mineral security. The Ministry of Mines has launched the ninth tranche of its Critical Mineral Auction, offering 20 blocks across eight states to strengthen domestic resource availability and attract private investment.

The message is straightforward: India wants greater control over the minerals that will power its next phase of industrial growth.

India’s Critical Mineral Auction Expands

The ninth tranche marks another step in India’s effort to build a stronger domestic mining and exploration ecosystem.

The Ministry of Mines has placed 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks on offer, covering eight states. The auction follows eight previous tranches in which 100 unique mineral blocks were offered. Of these, 64 were successfully auctioned, delivering a success rate of 64 per cent.

That figure provides a useful snapshot of the government’s progress. A substantial number of blocks have attracted successful bids, although the remaining opportunities show that auction participation and project viability still matter.

The latest round aims to widen private sector involvement while improving the availability of minerals considered essential for India’s industrial and technological ambitions.

8 States Get 20 Critical Mineral Blocks

The 20 blocks offered under the ninth tranche are distributed across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal.

Chhattisgarh leads the latest auction with five blocks. Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal have three blocks each.

Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have two blocks apiece, while Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have one block each.

The distribution reflects the geographical spread of India’s mineral exploration opportunities.

The minerals included in the auction cover a broad range of industrial requirements. These include graphite, glauconite, vanadium, gallium, titanium, rare earth elements (REE), bauxite, aluminous laterite, potash, halite and tungsten.

Each mineral has a different industrial application, but collectively they support sectors that are becoming increasingly important to India’s economic and technological development.

Why These Minerals Matter to India

Critical minerals are no longer just another mining-sector discussion. They have become an important part of industrial competitiveness.

The minerals offered in the latest auction are relevant to clean energy technologies, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, fertilisers, defence, aerospace and electronics.

For India, securing access to these resources is closely connected with its broader energy transition and manufacturing ambitions.

Electric mobility and clean energy technologies require specialised mineral inputs. Advanced electronics and defence manufacturing also depend on access to materials with specific industrial properties.

This makes domestic exploration strategically important.

India’s effort to auction more mineral blocks is intended to strengthen mineral security and encourage greater participation from private companies. Rather than depending entirely on external sources, the government is attempting to expand the country’s own exploration and resource development capabilities.

However, auctioning a block is only one part of the process. Exploration, commercial viability and eventual production will determine how much these resources contribute to domestic supply.

Third Exploration Licence Auction Also Launched

Alongside the ninth tranche of critical mineral auctions, the Ministry of Mines has launched the third tranche of Exploration Licence auctions.

The exploration licence blocks are located in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Telangana and Gujarat.

The blocks cover copper, vanadium, rare earth elements, potash and halite, along with associated mineralisation.

Exploration Licences were introduced through Section 10BA of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.

The framework allows private companies to participate in exploring 29 critical and deep-seated minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule of the Act.

This is significant because exploration can begin before the actual mining stage. It opens the door for private participation in identifying and assessing mineral resources that could eventually support commercial mining operations.

So far, 11 exploration licence blocks have been successfully auctioned across the first two tranches.

The third round builds on that foundation and expands the government’s efforts to bring more private players into mineral exploration.

Government Changes Auction Rules to Attract Bidders

The government has also adjusted its auction framework to address participation-related challenges.

On October 16, the Ministry of Mines notified the Mineral (Auction) Third Amendment Rules, 2026.

Under the amendment, the minimum number of technically qualified bidders required for the second round of auction for Part D minerals has been reduced from three to two.

The revised requirement has been incorporated into the tender documents for both the latest auction rounds.

According to the government, the change addresses one of the reasons certain mineral blocks remained unsold.

The amendment could make the auction process more flexible where bidder participation is limited. It also reflects an attempt to improve the chances of completing auctions rather than allowing blocks to remain stuck because of qualification requirements.

India’s Mineral Security Push Enters Another Phase

The ninth critical mineral auction and the third Exploration Licence tranche represent two connected parts of India’s mineral strategy.

The first focuses on auctioning identified mineral blocks, while the second creates opportunities for companies to participate in exploration.

Together, these measures aim to expand domestic mineral availability, encourage private investment and support industries that depend on strategic resources.

The previous eight auction tranches recorded a 64 per cent success rate, while 11 exploration licence blocks have already been auctioned in the first two rounds.

These numbers show that the process is moving forward, although the real test will be the conversion of exploration opportunities into commercially viable resources.

India has made its direction clear. Mineral security is becoming an important part of its industrial and energy strategy. The latest auctions add another layer to that effort.

The opportunity is substantial. Now the focus must remain on execution.