How many critical and strategic mineral blocks are on offer in the ninth tranche of e-auction launched by the Ministry of Mines?
- A.15 blocks
- B.20 blocks
- C.29 blocks
- D.64 blocks
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is 20 blocks. The ninth tranche of the e-auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks places twenty blocks before bidders, drawn from eight states. Chhattisgarh accounts for five of them, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal three each, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra two each, and Andhra Pradesh and Bihar one each. Option A, fifteen, matches none of the figures in this auction. Option C, twenty-nine, is the count of critical and deep-seated minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule of the MMDR Act that an Exploration Licence can cover, not the number of blocks in this tranche. Option D, sixty-four, is the number of blocks successfully auctioned across the first eight tranches out of the hundred unique blocks that were offered in them, which works out to a success rate of sixty-four per cent. Only option B gives the size of Tranche IX itself.
Read the full article: Mines Ministry Opens 9th Critical Mineral Auction Tranche
Practice Questions
Under which section of the MMDR Act was the Exploration Licence introduced?
- A.Section 4A
- B.Section 9B
- C.Section 10BA
- D.Section 11D
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The Exploration Licence was created through Section 10BA of the MMDR Act, and it allows private industry to put money into exploring minerals even before mining itself begins.
Read the full explanation →What key change do the Mineral (Auction) Third Amendment Rules, 2026 make for Part D minerals?
- A.Revenue share for the winner is capped at 50 per cent
- B.Technically qualified bidders needed in the second round fall from three to two
- C.Only public sector undertakings may bid in the second round
- D.The auction switches from forward to reverse bidding
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The government notified these rules on 16 October 2026, and the change has been written into the tender documents of both tranches launched in Goa.
Read the full explanation →Which state received the largest amount in this instalment of tax devolution?
- A.Maharashtra
- B.Bihar
- C.Uttar Pradesh
- D.West Bengal
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In the state-wise break-up published with the release, Uttar Pradesh was allotted the largest amount of the Rs 1,09,019 crore shared among twenty-eight states, which follows from its being the biggest claimant on the states' share of central taxes.
Read the full explanation →Why did the Union Government advance the November instalment of tax devolution?
- A.Because the Finance Commission's term was ending
- B.In view of the festive season and to help states accelerate capital spending
- C.To offset a shortfall in GST compensation
- D.Because states had failed to meet borrowing limits
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The Ministry of Finance said the early transfer would also let states finance expenditure related to development and welfare.
Read the full explanation →How much tax devolution did the Union Government release to state governments on 5 November 2026?
- A.Rs 89,086 crore
- B.Rs 1,09,019 crore
- C.Rs 1,78,173 crore
- D.Rs 2,09,019 crore
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This was the regular instalment of tax devolution that the Union Government transferred to the state governments, and it was released on 5 November 2026.
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