Raipur, Chhattisgarh has emerged as the first state in the country to successfully auction a lithium mine, marking a strategic milestone in the exploration of critical minerals. Secretary of Mineral Resources P Dayanand, while addressing a press conference on Thursday, stated that the state’s mineral revenue has witnessed a sharp rise due to planned scientific development and transparent auctioning processes.
The state has achieved a record mineral revenue of ₹14,592 crore in its silver jubilee year (2024–25), a massive jump from the ₹429 crore recorded at the time of the state’s formation in 2000. For the current financial year 2025–26, the government has already collected ₹10,345 crore by December 2025 and is on track to reach the target of ₹17,000 crore by March.
Chhattisgarh accounts for approximately 17% of the country’s total mineral production and contributes nearly 10% to the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), P Dayanand noted while highlighting the state’s contribution to the national economy.
In a major breakthrough, the Union Government auctioned lithium and Rare Earth Element (REE) blocks in Katghora tehsil of Korba district. The block was bagged by Kolkata-based Maiki South Mining Private Limited. “The commencement of lithium mining will not only reduce import dependence but also generate significant employment for local youth,” the Secretary added.
Further exploration for lithium, niobium, tantalum, and rare earth elements is also underway in the Bengpal-Elingnar-Komakoleng area of Sukma and Bastar districts under the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).
To ensure the welfare of mining-affected regions, the state has amended the Chhattisgarh District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Trust Rules, 2015. This aligns them with the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) Guidelines-2024. A total of ₹16,742 crore has been received under the DMF to date.
Out of 1,07,689 sanctioned works, 75,901 projects have been completed. The state is now using DMF Portal 2.0 for real-time tracking of financial approvals and accountability.
Following the amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, a total of ₹1,159 crore has been deposited in the NMET fund as of December 2025 to boost pan-India mineral exploration, the Secretary informed.