New Delhi: India’s mineral sector has crossed a major milestone with the operationalisation of 101 auctioned mineral blocks since the introduction of the auction regime in 2015, the Ministry of Mines said on Thursday.
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The Ministry said the achievement reflects the impact of reforms undertaken in coordination with State Governments to strengthen transparency, efficiency and competitiveness in mineral resource allocation, while supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
According to the Ministry, the country has witnessed significant progress in auction-based allocation of mineral resources over the last decade, with a large number of mineral blocks auctioned nationwide. Of these, 101 blocks have already commenced operations, marking a key milestone in the implementation of mining sector reforms.
The Ministry also highlighted that FY 2025-26 recorded the highest-ever annual performance under the auction regime, with 212 mineral blocks auctioned during the financial year. It said the development reflects the growing momentum and credibility of India’s transparent mineral allocation framework.
The operationalisation of the blocks has been facilitated through policy support, streamlined procedures and close monitoring by the Ministry in collaboration with State Governments. The Centre and States worked together to expedite statutory clearances, approvals and resolution of implementation-related challenges, enabling faster transition of auctioned mines into production.
“These operationalized blocks are contributing meaningfully towards enhancing domestic mineral production, strengthening raw material security for core industries, reducing import dependence, and supporting overall economic growth,” the Ministry said.
Among the States, Odisha accounted for the highest number of operationalised blocks at 34, followed by Karnataka with 18 and Gujarat with 11. Madhya Pradesh operationalised 10 blocks, Rajasthan eight, Goa six, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh five each, Maharashtra three and Assam one block.
The Ministry noted that Assam operationalised its mineral block within nine months of issuance of the Letter of Intent (LoI), highlighting administrative efficiency and effective coordination.
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The operationalised mines include 47 iron ore blocks and 29 limestone blocks. The portfolio also comprises bauxite, manganese ore, chromite and other associated minerals that are critical for industries such as steel, cement, aluminium and infrastructure.
The Ministry of Mines commended State Governments for their role in bringing the auctioned blocks into operation and said the milestone demonstrates the strengthening of India’s mining governance framework and the Government’s commitment to building a transparent, efficient and sustainable mineral sector.
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