Ministry of Mines Unveils AI-Enabled GSI Portal Alongside Fresh Critical Mineral Auctions

The Ministry of Mines will launch the second tranche of Exploration Licence (EL) block auctions at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute (CSOI) in New Delhi, marking a key step in India’s mineral sector reforms aimed at strengthening exploration and ensuring long-term mineral security, particularly for critical and deep-seated minerals.

The event will be attended by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Mines, representatives of State Governments, industry stakeholders and exploration companies.

Alongside the auction launch, the Ministry will unveil the Next Generation Digital Portal of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The cloud-enabled platform integrates data acquisition, analysis, visualisation and dissemination, and features AI and machine learning-based tools. The portal is interoperable with the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) and is expected to enhance transparency, efficiency and data-driven decision-making in mineral exploration.

The Ministry has also planned a stakeholder roadshow to provide detailed insights into the Exploration Licence framework, auction methodology and incentives available to explorers. Presentations will cover the e-auction process through the MSTC portal, auction rules and the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) scheme, which offers partial reimbursement of eligible exploration expenditure. An open house session will be conducted to address stakeholder queries and suggestions.

The second tranche builds on the rollout of the first tranche of EL auctions launched on 13 March 2025 in Goa by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. The first tranche included 13 Exploration Licence blocks covering critical minerals such as Rare Earth Elements (REE), zinc, diamond, copper and Platinum Group Elements (PGE).

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic mineral exploration and secure supply chains for critical minerals essential to India’s energy transition and industrial growth.