The achievement was reviewed during the ninth monthly review meeting chaired by Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal, attended by senior ministry officials and representatives from Category-A mineral-bearing states. The meeting focused on accelerating mining reforms, increasing domestic mineral production and ensuring the swift operationalisation of auctioned mineral blocks across the country.
According to the Ministry of Mines, the pace of mineral block auctions has witnessed a sharp rise in recent years. Between the financial years 2015-16 and 2020-21, a total of 108 mineral blocks were auctioned nationwide. However, from 2021-22 to 2024-25, the number surged to 364 auctioned blocks, averaging nearly 90 blocks annually.
Officials stated that the record-breaking performance in 2025-26 reflects the government’s aggressive strategy to secure critical mineral resources essential for economic expansion, industrial development and the clean energy transition. The ministry has intensified efforts to strengthen long-term mineral availability and reduce dependency on external supply chains.
The Ministry also reviewed the operationalisation status of auctioned mines during the meeting. In the financial year 2025-26 alone, 36 mineral blocks became operational, including 28 greenfield projects and eight brownfield mines. This marks a significant rise compared to the entire period from 2015-16 to 2024-25, during which only 58 blocks were operationalised, including 20 greenfield and 38 brownfield mines.
During the review, Piyush Goyal stressed the importance of stronger coordination between the central government and state administrations to speed up statutory clearances and ensure the early commencement of mining activities. He also highlighted the urgent need to develop critical mineral resources to strengthen domestic supply chains, support industrial growth and reinforce India’s long-term mineral security objectives under the vision of a self-reliant nation.
The high-level meeting concluded with discussions on improving implementation mechanisms and ensuring faster execution of mining projects across mineral-rich states. The record number of auctions and rapid operationalisation of mines are being viewed as a major step towards transforming India’s mining sector into a stronger pillar of economic growth, industrial expansion and strategic resource security.
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