UPSC By Aptness.ai
PIB digest for Tuesday, 13 October

Outreach Programme on Auction of Offshore Mineral Blocks

Ministry of Mines · Economy · Posted 13 OCT 2026 8:11PM

What happened

The Ministry of Mines organized an outreach programme in New Delhi regarding the auction of two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea—Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01—covering a total area of 1,632 square kilometres for polymetallic nodule and crust exploration.

Why it matters for UPSC

This initiative illustrates the government's efforts to enhance critical mineral supply chains, security, and resource development, directly connecting to the UPSC syllabus themes of economic development, natural resources, and industrial policy.

Key objectives

  1. The Ministry of Mines issued a Notice Inviting Tender for two offshore mineral blocks, Sewell Rise-01 (632 sq km) and West Sewell Ridge-01 (1,000 sq km), located in the Andaman Sea.
  2. Both blocks contain polymetallic nodules and crusts (such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese) and are offered for a Composite Licence under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.
  3. The auction schedule runs from the commencement of tender document sales on 1 October 2026 to the final bid submission deadline on 28 December 2026.