The Ministry of Mines will launch the eighth tranche auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks on 15 July 2026 in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Coal and Mines Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey. The eighth tranche offers 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks spread across nine states, comprising 13 newly identified blocks and 7 blocks re-offered under a second attempt. The critical mineral portfolio covers molybdenum, graphite, glauconite, rare earth elements (REE), vanadium, gallium, titanium, tungsten, phosphorite, potash, lithium, caesium and rubidium, minerals vital for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, fertilisers, defence and other strategic sectors. With seven tranches completed, the Ministry has successfully auctioned 56 of 88 critical and strategic mineral blocks, a success rate of over 63%, reflecting growing investor confidence in the transparent, competitive and market-based auction framework. In financial year 2025-26, the mineral sector achieved a historic milestone with 212 mineral blocks auctioned, the highest in any financial year since the auction system began, including 22 critical and strategic blocks. The government has also notified amendments to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2026 to simplify the process, rationalising timelines for payment of the upfront amount, allowing greater flexibility in executing Mining Lease and Prospecting Licence documents, and enabling timely refund of bid security, performance security and other payments where an auction is annulled for reasons not attributable to the successful or preferred bidder. These measures aim to improve ease of doing business and accelerate operationalisation of auctioned blocks.