2 weeks ago
Centre to hold Patna roadshow for 8th critical mineral block auction
The government of India wants to find and dig up special rocks and minerals that are used to make things like phones, batteries, and clean energy.
To do this, it is holding a big meeting in Patna, a city in Bihar.
At the meeting, people who want to dig for these minerals can learn how to bid for the right to do so.
The government is offering 20 areas of land where these minerals might be found.
Some of these minerals are very rare and important, like graphite and rare earth elements.
The meeting will be led by a minister named Satish Chandra Dubey.
The Chief Minister of Bihar, Samrat Choudhary, will also be there.
There will be talks about how to explore for minerals and how to get money back for some exploration costs.
This is all part of a plan to make India stronger by finding its own minerals instead of buying them from other countries.
The Union Ministry of Mines will hold a roadshow in Patna on the 8th Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks.
The 8th tranche includes 20 mineral blocks: 3 mining leases and 17 composite licence blocks.
The blocks cover minerals like graphite, rare earth elements, rare metals, vanadium, gallium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, potash, phosphorite, and glauconite.
Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey will chair the programme, with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and state Mines Minister Pramod Kumar attending.
The event also includes a workshop on 'Mineral Exploration: Planning, Execution and Reporting' and a presentation on the NMEDT Scheme.
- Who
- Union Ministry of Mines, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, state Mines Minister Pramod Kumar, GSI, MECL, and prospective investors.
- What
- A roadshow on the 8th Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks and a workshop on mineral exploration.
- Where
- Patna, Bihar, India.
- When
- Monday (following the official statement issued on Sunday).
- Why
- To promote exploration, accelerate development of critical minerals, enhance private-sector participation, and strengthen India's mineral security under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Proponents
Critics
Private-sector participation in mineral exploration
Proponents
Enhancing private-sector participation accelerates development of critical minerals and strengthens India's mineral security.
Critics
Greater private involvement may raise concerns about resource control and environmental oversight.
Key facts
- Organizer
- Union Ministry of Mines
- Event
- Roadshow on 8th Tranche of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks auction
- Location
- Patna, Bihar
- Mineral blocks offered
- 20 (3 mining leases, 17 composite licence blocks)
- Minerals covered
- Graphite, rare earth elements, rare metals, vanadium, gallium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, potash, phosphorite, glauconite
- Chair
- Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines
- Attendees
- Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary, Mines Minister Pramod Kumar, GSI, MECL
- Presenters
- MECL, SBICAPS, MSTC






