The Ministry of Mines will hold a roadshow on the eighth tranche of auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks and a workshop on the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) on 17 August in Patna. The event will be chaired by Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and State Mines Minister Pramod Kumar attending. Senior officials, geological and exploration agencies, industry representatives and prospective investors are expected. The eighth tranche comprises 20 mineral blocks, with three Mining Lease and 17 Composite Licence blocks, covering minerals such as graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), rare metals, vanadium, gallium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, potash, phosphorite and glauconite. The mix of lease types is intended to attract varied investment and technical capabilities to develop resources relevant to emerging technologies. The roadshow will outline the mineral potential, auction framework and bidding process, and set out opportunities for investment in the critical and strategic minerals sector. Presentations will be made by Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) on the blocks, by SBICAPS on the auction process and tender document, and by MSTC on the e-auction platform. A session will explain the NMEDT scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration expenses for Composite Licence holders and an open-house discussion will follow to address stakeholder queries. The second half will feature a workshop on mineral exploration covering planning, execution and reporting, and will address India’s mineral exploration potential and the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR). Sessions will cover preparation of exploration blocks using the NGDR and preparation of mineral exploration reports, with technical input from senior officers of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The initiative reflects the Government’s push to promote exploration, accelerate development of strategic mineral resources, enhance private-sector participation and support the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.