Rajasthan Grants India’s First Rare Earth Exploration Licence

Rajasthan’s government, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, has issued India’s first Rare Earth Elements (REE) exploration licence. The licence covers a 207.63‑square‑kilometre area in the Navatala‑Devigarh region, spanning Pachpadra tehsil in Balotra district and Shergarh tehsil in Jodhpur district.

The Department of Mines and Geology executed the licence after the block was awarded through a transparent auction. M/s Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) was the winning bidder, and the agreement was signed by Director (Mines) Mahavir Prasad Meena, Additional Director Mahesh Mathur, and Vikrant Gupta of CMPDI. Additional Chief Secretary (Mines) Aparna Arora said the move demonstrates Rajasthan’s commitment to transparent, investment‑friendly mineral governance and will help strengthen India’s supply chain for strategic minerals. REE are critical for electric vehicles, defence, aerospace, renewable energy, semiconductors, electronics and telecommunications.

The central government launched auctions for REE exploration licences in 2025 following policy reforms introduced in 2024, aiming to accelerate scientific exploration and private investment in critical minerals.