← 6 November 2026's Current Affairs · Economy GA Prelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★★☆☆
Ninth round of critical mineral auctions launched
వార్తల్లో ఎందుకు?
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 నిమి
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.
మూలాలు: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ముఖ్య వాస్తవాలు
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
ప్రిలిమ్స్ · మెయిన్స్
How the exam will ask it
ప్రిలిమ్స్
- 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.
మెయిన్స్
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
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: 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
Auctions of critical and strategic mineral blocks in India are conducted under which law?
- Mines Act, 1952
- Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015
- Atomic Energy Act, 1962
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: D — Correct: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 — block auctions run under the MMDR Act, 1957 as amended, administered by the Ministry of Mines, which launched its ninth round with 20 blocks. • Mines Act, 1952 — wrong: the Mines Act, 1952 governs safety and working conditions in mines, not block auctions. • Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 — wrong: the 2015 Act governs coal mine allocation, not critical mineral blocks. • Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — wrong: the Atomic Energy Act covers atomic minerals and nuclear regulation, not general block auctions.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ