Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is preparing to auction two gold-bearing blocks for the first time, targeting the 2025-26 financial year, with auctions potentially commencing in 2026.
This move comes as part of a broader plan to auction 49 mineral blocks, including major and critical minerals, , in line with the Ministry of Mines’ directive to bring greater predictability and transparency to the mineral auction process.
A high-level committee, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Steel and Mines Department, is scheduled to convene on January 3, 2026, to finalise the annual auction calendar. The meeting will review the suitability, exploration status and auction readiness of the proposed mineral blocks, according to an official communication from Gauttam Chaudhury, Additional Secretary in the department.
The proposed blocks have been explored by agencies including the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DoMG), Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL).
Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena emphasised the state’s commitment to systematic mineral development. “No mining auctions had been held since 2023. After our government came to power, we prepared 30 mines for auction, and 8 of them have already been auctioned. We have issued Notices Inviting Tenders (NITs) for 12 of the remaining mines. The remaining 10 mines will also be auctioned in January. After these auctions, the Mines Department prepares an annual auction plan. We have a meeting scheduled to discuss the mine auctions and the status of the mines for the 2026-27 period,” he told ANI.
The state plans to auction the two gold mines during 2025-26. “The 2026-27 calendar will include 35 major mines, six critical mines will be included in 2025-26, and 8 critical mines in 2027. This meeting will finalise the annual action plan. All the mines will be auctioned by 2026-27,” he added.
The gold blocks are Madansahi-Kanjia block in Mayurbhanj district, a gold and copper deposit spanning approximately 300 hectares, and Jaldiha block in Keonjhar district, a pure gold-bearing area covering about 150 hectares. Both have undergone G2-level exploration, involving detailed assessments of identified mineral zones.
Gold traces have been confirmed in multiple districts, including Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Angul, Koraput, Keonjhar, and Deogarh, with preliminary surveys indicating potential in Malkangiri, Sambalpur, and Boudh. In Mayurbhanj, ongoing detailed explorations cover sites such as Jashipur, Suriaguda, Ruaansi, Idelkucha, Maredihi, Suleipat, and Badampahad. Previous Geological Survey of India (GSI) studies also detected gold during copper explorations in Deogarh’s Adasa-Rampalli belt.
