New Delhi, July 15 -- The Ministry of Mines on Wednesday launched the eighth tranche of auctions for 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks as part of efforts to boost domestic availability of minerals essential for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and strategic industries.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy launched the auction in New Delhi in the presence of Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey and senior ministry officials.

The eighth tranche comprises 20 mineral blocks across nine states, including 13 newly identified blocks and seven being re-auctioned. The blocks contain minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements (REE), graphite, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, gallium, molybdenum, phosph...