The framework seeks to provide for systematic exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals by facilitating participation from private and public sector. File image for representation only.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Union Mines Ministry informed on Tuesday (June 23, 2026) that it has auctioned off ten critical and strategic mineral blocks associated with the seventh tranche of auctions, thus implying that 56 out of 88 mineral blocks have been cumulatively auctioned off across all tranches till date.
The seventh tranche of auctions, that commenced March 23 this year, offered 19 mineral blocks comprising critical and strategic minerals. It was for the first time that critical minerals blocks were auctioned for the first time in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Telangana.
Along with the auctioning off the blocks, the Ministry informed it has completed the second tranche of exploration license (EL) auctions. For the first time, it expanded the exploration license framework to Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
The framework seeks to provide for systematic exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals by facilitating participation from private and public sector.
Till date, the government has auctioned off 11 exploration license blocks since the introduction of the EL regime.
Published – June 23, 2026 07:45 pm IST
