Rajasthan Issues First Rare Earth Exploration Licence Under Centre’s Critical Minerals Policy

Exam-focused facts from the 1 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Rajasthan became the first state to execute an exploration licence for a rare earth elements (REE) block under the Centre’s new exploration licensing regime for critical and strategic minerals.
The exploration licence was awarded for a 207.6 sq km block spanning Nawatala-Devigarh in Balotra district and Shergarh in Jodhpur district.
The block was auctioned and awarded to the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI), a public sector enterprise.
Geological studies indicate presence of rare earth elements including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium.
The Centre introduced the exploration licence framework for critical and strategic minerals in 2024, with the first round of auctions conducted in 2025.