Ministry of Mines to Launch Eighth Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks

📌 Summary:

• Union Coal & Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy to launch the Eighth Tranche of auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks on 15 July 2026 in New Delhi
• Eighth Tranche comprises 20 blocks across nine States — 13 newly identified blocks and 7 re-offered (second attempt)
• Mineral portfolio: Molybdenum, Graphite, Glauconite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, Gallium, Titanium, Tungsten, Phosphorite, Potash, Lithium, Cesium and Rubidium — critical for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, fertilisers and defence
• Cumulative progress: 56 of 88 critical/strategic blocks auctioned across seven tranches (63%+ success rate)
• FY 2025-26 milestone: 212 mineral blocks auctioned (highest ever in a financial year), including 22 critical/strategic blocks
• Government recently notified amendments to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2026 — rationalising upfront payment timelines, giving flexibility in executing Mining Lease/Prospecting Licence deeds, and easing refund of bid/performance security on annulled auctions

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 economy — critical mineral security, MMDR framework, clean energy transition, supply-chain resilience, atmanirbharta in strategic minerals

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Eighth Tranche: 20 blocks across 9 States (13 new + 7 re-offered)
• Minerals include Lithium, REE, Gallium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Cesium, Rubidium
• 56 of 88 critical blocks auctioned so far (63%+ success)
• FY 2025-26: record 212 blocks auctioned
• Governed under Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2026 and the MMDR Act framework

🔑 Key Term: Critical Minerals — minerals essential to economic and national security whose supply chains are vulnerable to disruption (e.g., lithium, cobalt, rare earths).