Karnataka Liquor Licence E-Auction 2026: 579 Excise Licences to Be Auctioned Online Through MSTC From July 24

The Karnataka Excise Department has announced a statewide e-auction for 579 liquor licences , introducing an online bidding system aimed at improving transparency and boosting government revenue. The decision follows amendments to the Karnataka Excise Rules , which were proposed in the 2025-26 State Budget .

The online auction will be conducted through the MSTC e-auction portal , with district-wise live bidding scheduled between July 24 and July 31, 2026 . The licences awarded through the auction will remain valid for five years , covering the block period from 2026-27 to 2030-31 .

Karnataka to Auction 579 Liquor Licences

According to the Excise Department notification, the government will auction:

Karnataka Excise Licenses Liquor Shops Complete Details - Document PDF
below doucment pdf's contains details like pre bid EMD, Shop area licenses, auction timings  details

These licences have been created by reclassifying suspended and previously unallotted liquor licences , allowing them to be offered again through the new e-auction process.

Online Registration and Auction Schedule

The Excise Department has released a detailed schedule for interested bidders.

Important Dates

The auction will be conducted district-wise in phases , enabling bidders to participate according to the notified schedule.

Five-Year Licence Validity

Successful bidders will receive liquor licences valid for a five-year block period , beginning in 2026-27 and continuing until 2030-31 .

The longer licence period is expected to provide greater business certainty for operators while ensuring stable revenue generation for the state.

Reservation for SC and ST Categories

The notification also provides reservation benefits for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) applicants , in line with the revised Excise Rules.

Eligible applicants from reserved categories can participate under the provisions specified by the department.

Transparent E-Auction Through MSTC Portal

The Karnataka government has opted for the MSTC online auction platform to ensure a transparent and competitive bidding process.

Officials believe that conducting liquor licence allotments through an electronic auction system will:

• Improve transparency in licence allocation.
• Ensure fair competition among bidders.
• Increase state excise revenue .
• Reduce manual intervention in the allotment process.

The Excise Department has stated that the transparent online auction mechanism is expected to generate additional revenue for the state government .

Who Can Participate?

Interested applicants must complete online registration within the prescribed timeline and participate in the training sessions before taking part in the live auction. Further eligibility conditions, bidding rules and licence-specific requirements are available in the official auction notification issued by the Karnataka Excise Department.

The Karnataka Liquor Licence E-Auction 2026 marks one of the state's largest online excise licence allocations in recent years. By bringing 579 licences under a digital auction platform, the government aims to modernise the licensing process while ensuring greater accountability and maximising public revenue through competitive bidding.
 

The seller for the auction is the State Excise Department, Government of Karnataka, headquartered at 2nd Floor, TTMC A Block, BMTC Building, Shanthinagar, Bengaluru – 560027. Sri Basavaraj R. Sommannavar has been designated as the contact person for the auction.

Payments for successful bids will be made in favour of the State Huzur Treasury through the designated Treasury account as specified in the auction document.

For auction-related assistance, bidders may contact MSTC officials Tejas (Phone: 9980147110) or Praveen Kumar K.S. (Phone: 8971874057). General technical support is also available through the MSTC Helpdesk at 07969066600 or via email at [email protected].

Karnataka Excise Department Invites Bids for 427 Unused Liquor Licences Through e-Auction; Registration Begins July 3

The Karnataka State Excise Department has announced a major e-auction for 427 unused excise licences , inviting eligible bidders to participate in the online bidding process for the grant of CL-2A and CL-9A licences . The licences will be awarded to successful H-1 bidders for the retail sale of Indian Liquor (IL), Foreign Liquor (FL), or both across multiple districts in Karnataka .

The auction will be conducted through the MSTC e-Auction Portal , with licences being granted for a five-year excise period from 2026-27 to 2030-31 .

The notification was issued by the Office of the Excise Commissioner, Karnataka , on July 1, 2026 .

Registration Opens on July 3

According to the notification, online registration for bidders will commence on July 3, 2026 , while the live e-auction will be conducted between July 24 and July 31, 2026 .

The department has advised interested bidders to complete registration at least 48 hours before their preferred auction slot to avoid payment verification or technical delays.

Only bidders whose online registration and wallet payment verification are successfully completed will be permitted to participate in the auction.

Training for Prospective Bidders

To familiarise applicants with the online bidding process, the Excise Department will organise training sessions from July 6 to July 14, 2026 for prospective bidders and District e-Auction Nodal Officers.

The department also clarified that registration can be completed up to two working days before the scheduled auction slot, excluding Central and State Government holidays.
NOTICE

Auction Schedule

District-wise Live Bidding Schedule

24 July 2026

Slot 1 (10 AM – 12 PM)

Slot 2 (3 PM – 5 PM)

27 July 2026

Slot 1

Slot 2

28 July 2026

Slot 1

Slot 2

29 July 2026

Slot 1

Slot 2

30 July 2026

Slot 1

Slot 2

31 July 2026

Slot 1

Slot 2

Total Licences on Offer

The Excise Department will auction 427 unused excise licences across 12 live bidding sessions spread over six auction days.

The highest number of licences ( 58 ) will be auctioned during the 29 July afternoon session , while the 27 July morning session offers 50 licences .

Important Instructions for Bidders

• Registration is mandatory before participating.
• Online wallet payment must be successfully verified.
• Complete registration at least 48 hours before the selected auction slot.
• Registration is permitted up to two working days before the respective auction.
• Bidders should ensure stable internet connectivity to avoid disruptions during live bidding.
• Detailed guidelines, district-wise licence information, reservation details, application fee, earnest money deposit (EMD), base price and post-auction procedures are available on the Karnataka Excise Department and MSTC portals.

Official Websites

• Karnataka State Excise Department: https://stateexcise.karnataka.gov.in
• MSTC e-Auction Portal: https://www.mstcecommerce.com

ible bidders to participate in the online bidding process for the grant of CL-2A and CL-9A licences . The licences will be awarded to successful H-1 bidders for the retail sale of Indian Liquor (IL), Foreign Liquor (FL), or both across multiple districts in Karnataka.