Chhattisgarh is positioning itself as an important contributor to India’s supply chain for critical and strategic minerals, with the state highlighting opportunities in lithium, graphite, rare earth elements, tungsten, vanadium and gallium. These minerals are increasingly important for sectors including defence, clean energy, electric vehicles, batteries, electronics and advanced technologies.
The state’s mineral potential and investment opportunities were showcased at a roadshow in Naya Raipur, organised by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, ahead of the eighth tranche of auctions for critical and strategic mineral blocks. The latest auction tranche covers 20 mineral blocks across seven states, including five blocks located in Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai called on investors to participate actively in the auction process and take advantage of the state’s mineral resources. According to the state government, 65 mineral blocks have already been auctioned in Chhattisgarh, representing an estimated revenue potential of around Rs 4 lakh crore.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted the strategic importance of minerals such as lithium, graphite and rare earth elements for batteries, energy storage systems, electronics, drones, defence equipment and advanced manufacturing. He said the state was working to expand mineral development while maintaining its focus on environmental protection.
The state has identified potential deposits of lithium and rare earth elements in the Katghora and Bastar regions, while Balrampur has potential for graphite, vanadium and gallium. Nickel and chromium resources have also been identified in different parts of Chhattisgarh. Over the past two and a half years, 40 exploration projects have been initiated and geological surveys covering more than 2,800 kilometres have been completed.
The roadshow also featured the launch of two digital platforms. The ‘e-Ret Sangwari’ portal is intended to simplify and improve transparency in the supply of sand at concessional rates to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The ‘Tin’ portal, launched in Dantewada, is aimed at providing fair prices and greater transparency for produce generated by tribal families involved in tin-related activities. The event also saw the signing of MoUs covering financial assistance for mining activities and training in corundum cutting and polishing, supporting value addition and skill development within the sector.
Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey said strengthening domestic capabilities in critical and strategic minerals would be important for India’s economic and strategic interests. He encouraged investors, entrepreneurs and startups to explore opportunities across exploration, mining, processing and related activities, while stressing responsible mining and environmental safeguards.
Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu said mineral development should generate tangible benefits through greater exploration, investment, processing, value addition and employment. He also emphasised the need to improve infrastructure in mining regions, including housing, transport, drinking water, healthcare and education.
Keshav Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, said auctions covering 88 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been initiated so far, with 56 blocks successfully auctioned. He noted that the Katghora Lithium and Rare Earth Element block in Chhattisgarh became the first lithium-bearing mineral block to be auctioned in India.
The Ministry has also introduced reforms aimed at improving the investment environment, including time-bound approvals, milestone-based compliance and a unified mining portal. These measures are intended to make the auction process more transparent, efficient and investor-friendly while supporting India’s efforts to build a stronger domestic critical-minerals ecosystem.
