Ministry of Mines launches seventh tranche of critical and strategic mineral auctions with 19 blocks
Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy launched the 7th tranche of e-auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks on 23 March 2026, offering 19 blocks in 10 States, with Bihar offering the most (4).
Summary
The seventh tranche of the e-auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks was launched by Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on 23 March 2026. The tranche offers 19 blocks across 10 States – Bihar 4, Chhattisgarh 3, Odisha 3, Rajasthan 2, Telangana 2, and one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand – covering minerals such as rare earth elements, tungsten, lithium, graphite, vanadium, titanium, glauconite and rock phosphate. The six earlier tranches saw 46 blocks auctioned, after the MMDR Act was amended on 17 August 2023 to notify 24 critical and strategic minerals and let the Centre auction them. Bidders can now offer an Insurance Surety Bond instead of a bank guarantee under the Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026, and the winner is the highest bidder on percentage of value of mineral despatched in a two-stage ascending forward auction.
Key facts
- Launched
- 23 March 2026 by G. Kishan Reddy
- Blocks
- 19 in 10 States; Bihar 4, Chhattisgarh 3, Odisha 3
- Minerals
- REE, tungsten, lithium, graphite, vanadium, titanium, glauconite, rock phosphate
- Earlier tranches
- Six tranches, 46 blocks auctioned
- Legal basis
- MMDR Act amended 17 August 2023; 24 critical & strategic minerals
- Reform
- Insurance Surety Bond allowed instead of bank guarantee (Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026)
- Method
- Online two-stage ascending forward auction; highest % of value of mineral despatched
Practice MCQs 2 questions
How many blocks are on offer in the seventh tranche of critical and strategic mineral auctions launched on 23 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 19
The 7th tranche offers 19 blocks across 10 States; 46 is the number auctioned in the earlier six tranches and 24 the number of notified critical and strategic minerals.
Consider the following about auctions of critical and strategic minerals: 1. The MMDR Act was amended on 17 August 2023 to notify 24 minerals as critical and strategic and let the Centre auction them. 2. The Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026 allow an Insurance Surety Bond as an alternative to a bank guarantee. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Ministry of Mines releases of 22 and 23 March 2026.