New Delhi, Feb. 28 -- Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy announced today that the Ministry of Mines will launch the first tranche auction of Exploration License blocks in March 2025.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, the Minister noted that this initiative follows the 2023 amendment to the MMDR Act, which introduced provisions for granting Exploration Licenses for critical and deep-seated minerals through auction.

Reddy also revealed that Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and Kerala will soon join the mineral auction regime, expanding India's mineral auction map to 17 states.

The Geological Survey of India has significantly increased its exploration activities, undertaking 438 projects in the 2024-25 field season, includi...