India’s mineral sector achieved a milestone in the financial year 2025-26 with the auction of 200 mineral blocks, the highest ever in a single year.
In a statement on Thursday, 19 March, the Ministry of Mines stated that the achievement reflects the strong cooperative efforts between the Union and State Governments and highlights the growing maturity of India’s auction-based mineral allocation framework.
Out of the total 200 blocks, 123 were auctioned as Mining Lease (ML) blocks and 77 as Composite Licence (CL) blocks.
This distribution includes both operational mining blocks and exploration-stage blocks.
In addition, Notices Inviting Tenders (NITs) for 70 mineral blocks – comprising 38 ML and 32 CL blocks – are currently underway, which may further increase the total number of auctions during the financial year, the ministry said.
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Acknowledging the significant role played by States in this achievement, the ministry said that Gujarat led with 32 blocks, followed by Rajasthan with 30 blocks, and Tamil Nadu with 22 blocks, emerging as the top contributors.
“Notably, Tamil Nadu has successfully conducted mineral block auctions for the first time, marking an important milestone. Uttarakhand has also entered the mineral auction framework with the successful auction of its first magnesite block,” the ministry said.
The auctions covered multiple mineral categories. Limestone accounted for 76 blocks, iron ore for 40 blocks, and bauxite for 30 blocks.
The ministry said that a key highlight of the year is the successful auction of 22 critical mineral blocks, reflecting the increasing focus on minerals of strategic importance for long-term resource security.
“Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Maharashtra played a major role in offering these blocks, contributing 5, 4, 4, 3, and 2 blocks respectively,” the ministry added.
The Ministry of Mines expressed its sincere appreciation to all State Governments for their proactive efforts, policy support, and administrative efficiency that enabled this record outcome.
“This milestone reinforces India’s commitment to building a transparent, efficient, and future-ready mineral allocation system to support sustained economic growth,” the ministry added.
