India to auction 21 critical mineral blocks across more than six states

(Reuters) - India will auction 21 critical mineral blocks as part of the fourth tranche worth 830 billion rupees ($9.94 billion) across more than six states, the government said on Monday.

Ten out of these are blocks from previous tranches.

India has been auctioning critical mineral blocks since November as part of efforts towards a clean energy transition.

On Friday, the government annulled 14 out of 18 blocks in the second tranche due to a lack of bids.

Earlier on Monday, the government awarded its first auctioned lithium block in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh to Maiki South Mining Ltd, according to a statement.

India also plans to auction its first tranche of 10 offshore critical minerals blocks in next 100 days.

($1 = 83.4781 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Neha Arora in New Delhi; Writing by Sethuraman NR and Navamya Ganesh Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Mrigank Dhaniwala)