Mineral block auctions: India sells record 200 blocks in 2025-26, Mines Ministry says

The Centre said on Thursday that 200 mineral blocks were sold in 2025-26. The Mines Ministry called it the highest ever in a single year. Tamil Nadu held mineral block auctions for the first time. Uttarakhand also joined the process by selling its first magnesite block.

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The Mines Ministry said the 200 auctioned blocks included 123 mining lease blocks. Another 77 blocks were offered as composite licences. Officials said this mix showed both ready-to-mine options and early-stage exploration chances. The ministry added that this helped keep the auction pipeline steady.

Mineral blocks auction numbers and NITs in 2025-26

Officials also reported that notices inviting tenders were active for 70 mineral blocks. These included 38 mining lease blocks and 32 composite licence blocks. The ministry said these NITs were underway. It added that more successful auctions were likely within the same financial year.

Gujarat offered the highest number of blocks, with 32 auctions completed. Rajasthan followed with 30 blocks, while Tamil Nadu recorded 22 blocks. The Mines Ministry said these states were the top contributors. It linked the results to faster preparation and smoother handling of auction steps.

Mineral blocks auction firsts for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand

The ministry highlighted first-time activity by two states during 2025-26. It said Tamil Nadu completed mineral block auctions for the first time. The statement described this as an important milestone for the state. It also said Uttarakhand entered the framework through its first magnesite block sale.

Critical mineral blocks auction focus in 2025-26

The ministry said 22 critical mineral blocks were auctioned during the year. It described this as a stronger focus on minerals linked to long-term resource security. Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Maharashtra were key contributors. They offered five, four, four, three and two blocks respectively.

With 200 blocks already sold and 70 more under tender, the ministry expects further auction outcomes. Officials said the mix of mining leases and composite licences supported both production and exploration. The statement also underlined new participation from Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. It added that critical mineral blocks remained a priority area.

With inputs from PTI