56 critical mineral blocks auctioned so far; first-ever Centre auctions in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Telangana
Key facts
- The Centre has now auctioned 56 critical and strategic mineral blocks in total.
- The 7th tranche sold 10 blocks, including graphite, rare earths and vanadium.
- It was the Centre's first critical mineral auction in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Telangana.
- The total of Exploration Licence blocks auctioned by the Centre has reached 11.
Why it matters
[Policy] Critical minerals are needed for batteries, electronics and clean energy. India imports most of them now. Auctions under the MMDR Act, 1957 aim to build a home supply.