Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, will formally launch the Sixth Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Minerals and announce the Preferred Bidders for seven deep-seated and critical mineral blocks under Tranche I of the Exploration Licence auction in Hyderabad on 16 September 2025.

The Government introduced auction-based Exploration Licences (ELs) for 29 critical and deep-seated minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule by amending the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The new EL regime aims to boost exploration of minerals such as lithium, copper, silver, diamond, and gold by engaging the private sector. Licence holders can conduct reconnaissance and prospecting to identify mining prospects and receive a revenue share from the auction premium for 50 years. These ELs will play a pivotal role in delineating blocks suitable for subsequent Mining Lease auctions, thereby increasing potential revenues for State Governments.

The Central Government has successfully concluded the auction of seven deep-seated and critical mineral blocks launched under Tranche I for Exploration Licences via the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) on 13 March 2025. These blocks contain deep-seated and critical minerals including gold, copper, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, and platinum group minerals across six states: Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

To further enhance the availability of critical and strategic minerals, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 empowered the Central Government to auction Mining Leases and Composite Licences for 24 minerals classified as critical and strategic. The Ministry of Mines has completed five tranches of auctions, covering 55 mineral blocks across multiple states, with 34 blocks successfully auctioned. Revenue from these auctions accrues to the respective State Governments.