Ministry of Mines Rolls Out Ninth Tranche of Critical Mineral Block Auction and Third Exploration Licence Auction with Auction Rule Reforms

Key facts

• The Ministry of Mines launched the Ninth Tranche of e-auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks and the Third Tranche of the Auction for Grant of Exploration Licence (EL) blocks on 05 November 2026, officiated by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, with Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant as Chief Guest.
• Tranche IX puts 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks up for auction across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal, covering minerals such as graphite, glauconite, vanadium, gallium, titanium, rare earth elements, bauxite, potash and halite, and tungsten.
• In the previous eight tranches, 100 unique critical and strategic mineral blocks were offered, of which 64 have been successfully auctioned, a success rate of 64%.
• Exploration Licences, introduced through Section 10BA of the MMDR Act, enable private investment in exploring 29 Critical and Deep-Seated Minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule of the Act; 11 EL blocks have been auctioned so far in two tranches.
• Tranche III of the EL auction offers 11 blocks: Madhya Pradesh (1, copper), Maharashtra (1, vanadium), West Bengal (1, REE), Rajasthan (4, potash and halite and REE), Telangana (3, REE) and Gujarat (1, vanadium).
• The Mineral (Auction) Third Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on 16 October 2026, reduce the minimum number of Technically Qualified Bidders required for the second round from three to two for Part D minerals, and Letters of Intent will now be issued automatically through the Unified Mining Portal.
• The sale of Tender Documents commenced on 05 November 2026; the last date for purchase is 01 January 2027 (17:00 hrs IST) and the last date for bid submission is 07 January 2027 (17:00 hrs IST).
• Critical Mineral Blocks will be auctioned through a two-stage ascending forward auction where the highest percentage of revenue share wins, while Exploration Licence Blocks will be auctioned through a two-stage descending reverse auction where the lowest percentage share of the future lessee's revenue share wins.