India’s mineral sector has achieved a historic milestone with the successful auction of 200 mineral blocks in FY 2025–26, the highest ever in a single financial year, reflecting strong coordination between the Centre and states and the growing maturity of the auction-based allocation system.
Of the total, 123 blocks were Mining Leases (ML) and 77 were Composite Licences (CL), indicating a balanced mix of operational and exploration opportunities. Additionally, tenders for 70 more blocks are currently underway, which could further boost the total count.
Among states, Gujarat led with 32 blocks, followed by Rajasthan with 30 and Tamil Nadu with 22, with Tamil Nadu also conducting mineral auctions for the first time. Uttarakhand marked its entry by successfully auctioning its first magnesite block.
Limestone dominated the auctions with 76 blocks, followed by iron ore (40) and bauxite (30). Notably, 22 critical mineral blocks were also auctioned, highlighting a growing focus on strategic resources essential for long-term economic and industrial growth.
The milestone underscores India’s push towards a transparent, efficient, and future-ready mineral allocation framework to support sustained economic development.