Govt launches India's 1st exploration licence auction for critical minerals

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Panaji: Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy on March 13 launched India's first-ever auction of Exploration Licences (ELs) for 13 exploration blocks for critical minerals in Dona Paula, Goa.

The licenses are for the exploration blocks for minerals like REE (rare earth elements), zinc, diamond, copper, PGE (platinum group minerals) and others.

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This is a major reform aimed to unlock India’s untapped critical and deep-seated mineral resources.

Reddy launched the ELs in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

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The programme also featured a roadshow on the 5th Tranche of Critical Mineral Blocks and the launch of AI Hackathon 2025, a Mineral Exploration Hackathon focused on “Mineral Targeting using AI”