New Delhi, Feb. 12 -- Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday launched the 2nd tranche of auction of Exploration Licence (EL) blocks, marking another significant step towards strengthening India's mineral exploration ecosystem, a release said.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister underscored the need to reduce India's dependence on mineral imports by accelerating domestic exploration and encouraging greater participation of the private sector alongside government agencies.

He reiterated that the Government is committed to building a structured, transparent and technology-driven exploration framework to unlock the country's untapped mineral potential.

Emphasising the strategic importance of critical minerals, Red...