New Delhi, July 15 -- New Delhi: Union coal and mines minister G. Kishan Reddy on Wednesday launched the eighth round of critical mineral auctions, offering 20 blocks, including 13 newly identified ones and seven that remained unsold in previous rounds.

The mineral portfolio includes molybdenum, graphite, glauconite, rare earth elements (REE), vanadium, gallium, titanium, tungsten, phosphorite, potash, lithium, caesium, and rubidium. These minerals are critical for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, fertilizers, defence and other strategic sectors.

In the last seven tranches, the mining ministry has successfully auctioned 56 out of 88 critical and strategic mineral blocks on offer.

The minister said in a statement that India is purs...