Naveen Jindal's Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd, Aditya Birla Group's Hindalco are amongst the technically qualified bidders to participate in the financial bid stage for the third tranche of coal block auctions.

Public sector steel makers Steel Authority of India Ltd and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd are also amongst those qualified for bidding for six coal blocks up for grabs.

Originally, 10 blocks were to be offered but four received one and less than one bids.

Out of the six blocks where financial bidding will take place, three -- Marki Mangli I, Jamkhani and Parbatpur Central -- are the unsold blocks from the previous two rounds of the auctions.

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