Piyush Goyal, Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, emphasized the need for better coordination between the Centre and state governments to speed up statutory clearances, kickstart mining operations promptly, and ensure timely production from auctioned blocks. In a recent meeting, Goyal led discussions with senior ministry officials and Category-A mineral-bearing States to assess the progress of mineral block auctions and operational activities nationwide. The focus of the meeting was on expediting reforms in the mining sector, increasing domestic mineral production, and ensuring the prompt operationalization of auctioned mineral blocks.
In the fiscal year 2025-26, a remarkable 212 mineral blocks were auctioned, marking the highest number in any financial year since auctions commenced. Notably, the auctions included 22 critical and strategic mineral blocks, underscoring the government’s ongoing commitment to securing essential mineral resources crucial for India’s economic development and transition to clean energy. According to the Ministry of Mines, a total of 108 mineral blocks were auctioned from the initiation of the auction regime in 2015 until the fiscal year 2020-21.
Significantly, the pace of auctions has seen a substantial increase, with 364 mineral blocks successfully auctioned between fiscal years 2022 to 2025, averaging around 90 blocks annually. The meeting also assessed the operational status of auctioned blocks, revealing that in the fiscal year 2026, a total of 36 mineral blocks, including 28 greenfield blocks and 8 brownfield blocks, have been operationalized. Over the period spanning fiscal years 2016 to 2025, a total of 58 blocks, comprising 20 greenfield and 38 brownfield blocks, were operationalized.
Secretary Goyal highlighted the crucial role of critical mineral development in realizing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and bolstering India’s mineral security. Recent surveys have identified significant reserves of Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs), and critical rare metals in various blocks within Rajasthan’s Siwana Ring Complex. The Ministry of Mines has already entrusted specialized agencies with technical evaluation work for three blocks, indicating a shift towards advanced exploration beyond preliminary assessments.
