SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir today entered India’s national mineral auction framework for the first time, putting seven limestone blocks carrying an estimated 58 million tonnes of reserves and spread across 314 hectares up for competitive bidding. The auction process was launched in Jammu by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary during a dedicated launch programme and roadshow.
The initiative marks a major step in implementing the mining reforms introduced under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2015 and places Jammu Kashmir among the States and Union Territories that have adopted a transparent, digital, auction-based system for mineral resource allocation. Officials said the move will attract investment to the cement and construction sectors, where limestone remains a critical input.
Seven blocks from Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch districts—classified under the G3 and G4 stages of the United Nations Framework Classification—have been brought to auction. These include the Dooru Shahabad block in Anantnag (28.96 hectares, 2.27 million tonnes), the Koot-Kapran block (22.43 hectares, 4.75 million tonnes), the Wantrag block (5.36 hectares, 10.85 million tonnes), the Rajpura block in Poonch (9.26 hectares, 5.20 million tonnes), the Darhal-Chittibatti block in Rajouri (216 hectares, 18.53 million tonnes), the Khablian-Bharot-Danna block (23.28 hectares, 11.64 million tonnes), and the Lah block (9.65 hectares, 4.56 million tonnes).
The auction is being conducted under subsections (4) and (5) of Section 11 of the MMDR Act, marking Jammu Kashmir’s formal entry into the national competitive bidding ecosystem for minerals. The administration said this signals a shift towards transparent exploitation of mineral resources, a priority under the Prime Minister’s Industrial Development Scheme, which seeks to position JK as an emerging investment hub.
Speaking at the launch, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy described the auction as a transformative milestone that will drive industrial growth, employment, and socio-economic benefits for local communities. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative will strengthen investor confidence and diversify the region’s industrial base, while Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary underlined the collaborative role of the Centre and the UT Government in implementing mining reforms.
As part of the roadshow, MECL presented technical and geological assessments of the blocks, SBI Capital Markets outlined the transactional structure, and MSTC demonstrated the e-auction mechanism to prospective bidders.
The sale of tender documents will open on November 28, 2025, with the pre-bid conference scheduled for December 12. The last date for purchase of tender documents is January 19, 2026, and bids must be submitted by January 20, 2026, through the MSTC online platform.
Officials said the initiative reflects the Government of India’s push for transparency, technology-enabled regulation, and sustainable resource utilisation, contributing to the broader national goal of building a self-reliant mineral sector under Viksit Bharat 2047.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring transparency in the auctioning of mineral blocks in Jammu & Kashmir, stating that the new e-auction mechanism will unlock economic potential in some of the most underserved regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister made these remarks during the launch and roadshow of the e-auction of the first seven limestone mineral blocks of J&K, held at the Convention Centre, Jammu. The e-auction was jointly commenced by Union Minister for Coal & Mines, G. Kishan Reddy and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Chief Secretary, Mining Department, Anil Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Farida M. Naik, senior officials from the Government of India, J&K Government, and representatives from the mining and industrial sectors.
In his address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the e-auction initiative marks a crucial step towards economic revival and sustainable development in mineral-rich but economically weaker areas of J&K.
“At least, we have limestone — and that limestone lies in areas where the economic situation is very bad,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy for proposing a special group within the Ministry of Mines to fast-track mineral exploration in Jammu and Kashmir.
He recalled how J&K’s mineral wealth — including the famous Neelam (sapphire) of Paddar and marble deposits — has remained commercially underutilised for decades.
The CM revealed that Minister Reddy personally intervened and urged J&K to take renewed interest in completing the process.
“In between, Reddy picked up the phone from Delhi and spoke to me. He asked me to push this forward so that these e-auctions are concluded successfully.”
The Chief Minister said the initiative is aimed at increasing J&K’s own revenue, which currently stands at around Rs 500 crore from these mineral blocks.
“When more blocks are identified, I hope our earnings will grow. I look forward to the day when the Chief Minister of J&K will not have to go to Delhi seeking funds. On the contrary, we will be self-sufficient and capable of contributing to the Centre.”
Reiterating his commitment to good governance, Omar Abdullah added, “Our effort is to have these blocks auctioned transparently. I assure you that the J&K Government will not create any obstacles. Instead, we will ensure that this process — and the next one — is successful. I hope this programme proves beneficial for J&K and for the entire country.”
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary described the day as “historic,” marking a transformative step toward harnessing the mineral wealth of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the government is committed to responsibly extracting the “scattered wealth hidden in the mountains of J&K,” and will soon extend e-auctioning to other high-value resources.
“Besides limestone, we are exploring all options for auctioning lithium, sapphire, and other valuable minerals. Very soon, people will hear good news about these resources,” he said.
