The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is conducting advanced exploration of rare earth minerals in West Bengal’s Purulia district, with GSI Director General Asit Saha saying that G2-level exploration is underway in two blocks in Assam and West Bengal. The blocks are located in Purulia and in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam and would be ready for auction within a year, Mr. Saha told PTI on the sidelines of the 3rd edition of the Minerals and Mining Conclave 2025 organised by ASSOCHAM. G2-level exploration indicates an advanced stage of exploration where the occurrence of mineralisation is typically analysed and eventually sampled to evaluate quantity and quality. Although the specific rare earth elements in the blocks have not been specifically identified, the expected presence of a “basket of 14-17 rare earth minerals” could make the extraction process technically challenging, Mr. Saha said. He added that vanadium deposits have been discovered in the lower Himalayan belt. According to Mr. Saha, the findings of the ongoing exploration in the two blocks will be submitted to the mine departments of the respective States and the Union Ministry of Mines for subsequent action once the exploration is completed. This development assumes significance given the diverse utilities of rare earth minerals in the manufacturing of defence technologies, electric vehicles, electronics, medical infrastructure, etc., and India’s ambitions to bolster manufacturing autonomy across sectors like e-mobility.