Jaipur, July 30 -- In a first for India, the Rajasthan government has executed an Exploration Licence for Rare Earth Elements (REE) to enable scientific exploration of critical minerals across a 207.6-square-kilometre block spanning Balotra and Jodhpur districts, where indications of strategically important rare earth minerals such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium have been identified, officials aware of the matter said. According to state's additional chief secretary (mines) Aparna Arora, the move comes as the Centre accelerates the exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals to reduce India's import dependence and strengthen domestic mineral security. The Centre had introduced auctions for critical and strategic mineral blocks in 2024, while the first phase of Exploration Licence auctions began in 2025, she said. The mining and geology department executed the REE Exploration Licence agreement under the leadership of chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who also holds the mines portfolio. During the inaugural auction round, the Centre successfully auctioned the REE-associated mineralisation block covering Navatala-Devigarh in Pachpadra tehsil of Balotra district and Shergarh tehsil of Jodhpur district, she said. Following the successful bid by Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd. (CMPDI), the state government granted the Exploration Licence and has now formally executed the agreement with the company. The agreement was signed in the presence of mines director Mahavir Prasad Meena, additional director (headquarters) Mahesh Mathur, CMPDI head of business development Vikrant Gupta and other senior officials. Arora said rare earth elements are critical for modern technologies and strategic sectors, including electric vehicles, defence, aerospace, renewable energy, semiconductors, electronics and telecommunications. She said the execution of the licence would accelerate scientific exploration of these critical minerals, encourage private investment in the mining sector and strengthen India's critical mineral security....