Digital Goa, May 13 – Goa government has initiated preparations for the fifth round of mining block auctions, targeting January 2027 for the next major e-auction as part of its mining revival strategy. According to the Department of Mines, the process will begin with identification of prospective mineral blocks between June and July 2026, followed by DGPS surveys and preparation of Geological Reports in July and August with technical assistance from the Geological Survey of India. Tender formalities for the e-auction are expected to be completed by September in coordination with GSI, SBICAPS and the MSTC portal, while the formal Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) is scheduled to be issued in October 2026. Officials said the January 2027 timeline remains tentative as it may be affected by the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections. Goa is currently operating under a Supreme Court-mandated production cap of 20 million tonnes. Previously auctioned mining blocks, including those from the fourth round, account for around 18.5 million tonnes of production capacity. The fifth auction is expected to bridge the remaining 1.5 to 2 million tonne gap under the legal ceiling.
