India cancels 14 out of 18 critical mineral block auctions

25 Jun 2024 CW Team

According to a notification from the government agency MSTC, India has cancelled the sale of 14 blocks of essential minerals that were scheduled for the second round of these auctions. India listed eight states' worth of 18 vital mineral blocks in February as it began the second round of its $362 billion essential minerals auction.

The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to move to a renewable energy source through the auctions. The Ministry of Mines announced in a notification dated June 21 that no bids were received, hence the auction process for five blocks in the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Arunachal Pradesh was cancelled. Minerals like vanadium, graphite, chromium, and potash were present in these blocks.

Separately, since there were not the required three offers, the auction procedure for nine blocks' including those holding cobalt, limestone, and tungsten' was cancelled. These blocks are dispersed over the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chattisgarh.

Real Estate

03 Apr 2026

Loomcraft Enters South India with Kerala Store Launch

Loomcraft has launched its exclusive store in Kerala, marking its entry into South India and a key step in its nationwide expansion strategy. The move targets a region driven by tourism and premium real estate demand, where outdoor spaces play a central role in hospitality and residential experiences.Kerala’s growing base of luxury resorts, boutique hotels, villas and gated communities has created strong demand for specialised outdoor furniture. However, the region has remained underserved, with buyers relying on imports or generic products not suited to humid, coastal and monsoon-heavy cond..

Mild Steel Prices Seen Rising to Rs 61,000 Per Tonne

Mild steel prices in India, currently around Rs 58,000 per tonne, are expected to rise to nearly Rs 61,000 per tonne in April, indicating an increase of about Rs 3,000 per tonne. The anticipated rise reflects structural pressures driven by geopolitical tensions, energy constraints and limited raw material availability.Ongoing global conflict has disrupted energy markets, leading to LNG shortages that are affecting domestic steel production. Small and mid-sized manufacturers, particularly those dependent on gas-based processes, are witnessing production cuts due to constrained energy supply, re..

Vedanta Expands Transgender Workforce to 75 Employees

Vedanta has strengthened its commitment to workplace inclusion by employing 75 transgender individuals across its businesses, including Vedanta Aluminium, Hindustan Zinc, Sesa Goa, FACOR and Cairn Oil & Gas. The initiative reflects sustained hiring efforts since 2022 to build equitable opportunities across operations, corporate and technical roles.Transgender employees are engaged in functions such as operations, finance, logistics, HR, CSR, healthcare and security, with provisions for internal mobility to support career progression. The company has implemented structured policies, includi..