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Ninth round of critical mineral auctions launched
ಸುದ್ದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕೆ?
100 blocks offered, only 64 auctioned: the MMDR Act critical minerals round GS3 Prelims tests
Mines Ministry offers 20 more critical mineral blocks.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2025; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 ನಿಮಿಷ
The Ministry of Mines launched the ninth round of critical mineral block auctions, offering 20 blocks.
Across eight earlier tranches 100 unique critical and strategic blocks were offered and 64 were successfully auctioned.
NITI Aayog and TEXMiN also signed a joint statement of intent to strengthen the critical minerals ecosystem.
ಮೂಲಗಳು: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಂಶಗಳು
Remember these
- Ministry of Mines launched the ninth round of critical mineral block auctions, offering 20 blocks
- Across eight earlier tranches, 100 unique critical and strategic blocks were offered and 64 were successfully auctioned
- Auctions run under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, as amended
- NITI Aayog and TEXMiN signed a joint statement of intent to strengthen the critical minerals ecosystem
- TEXMiN is the Technology Innovation Hub for mining at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್ · ಮೇನ್ಸ್
How the exam will ask it
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್
- Statement: Auctions of critical and strategic mineral blocks in India are conducted under the MMDR Act, 1957 as amended, administered by the Ministry of Mines.
- Statement: The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 governs coal mine allocation, not critical mineral block auctions.
- Statement: TEXMiN is a technology innovation hub focused on mining, based at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
- Statement: Of 100 unique critical and strategic blocks offered in eight earlier tranches, 64 were successfully auctioned.
ಮೇನ್ಸ್
GS3 (Economy, Resources): India's dependence on imports of critical minerals needed for batteries, electronics and clean energy makes domestic block auctions under the MMDR Act, 1957 a strategic priority. The gap between 100 blocks offered and 64 auctioned points to exploration risk, thin bidder interest and clearance delays. Way forward: better exploration data, faster clearances, R&D through bodies like TEXMiN, and overseas asset partnerships.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified. III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- I and II only
- II and III only
- I and III only
- I, II and III
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: C
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಾರ್ಯತಂತ್ರದ ಖನಿಜ ನಿಕ್ಷೇಪ ಬ್ಲಾಕ್‌ಗಳ ಹರಾಜನ್ನು ಯಾವ ಕಾನೂನಿನಡಿ ನಡೆಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ?
- ಗಣಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1952
- ಕಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಲು ಗಣಿ (ವಿಶೇಷ ಉಪಬಂಧ) ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2015
- ಪರಮಾಣು ಶಕ್ತಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1962
- ಗಣಿ ಮತ್ತು ಖನಿಜ (ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ) ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1957
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: D — ಸರಿ: ಗಣಿ ಮತ್ತು ಖನಿಜ (ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ) ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1957 — ಬ್ಲಾಕ್ ಹರಾಜು ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿಯಾದ MMDR ಕಾಯ್ದೆ 1957ರಡಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ; ಗಣಿ ಸಚಿವಾಲಯ 20 ಬ್ಲಾಕ್‌ಗಳ ಒಂಬತ್ತನೇ ಸುತ್ತು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ. • ಗಣಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1952 — ತಪ್ಪು: ಗಣಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ 1952 ಗಣಿಗಳ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಲಸದ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ನೋಡುತ್ತದೆ, ಬ್ಲಾಕ್ ಹರಾಜನ್ನಲ್ಲ. • ಕಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಲು ಗಣಿ (ವಿಶೇಷ ಉಪಬಂಧ) ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2015 — ತಪ್ಪು: 2015ರ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ಕಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಲು ಗಣಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ್ದು, ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ ಖನಿಜ ಬ್ಲಾಕ್‌ಗಳಿಗಲ್ಲ. • ಪರಮಾಣು ಶಕ್ತಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1962 — ತಪ್ಪು: ಪರಮಾಣು ಶಕ್ತಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ಪರಮಾಣು ಖನಿಜ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಮಾಣು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ್ದು.
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