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The Ministry of Mines launched the auction of two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea on 1 October 2026, under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 and the Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024. The blocks, covering a combined 1,632 square kilometres near Great Nicobar Island, will be offered for a composite licence covering both exploration and mining of polymetallic nodules and crusts containing cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese. This follows an amendment notified on 24 September 2026 that lowered the minimum number of technically qualified bidders needed for a first attempt auction from three to two, after the country's first such auction was cancelled in December 2025 for lack of bidder interest.