The union cabinet has approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of ₹16,300 crore.
Additionally, PSUs and other entities are expected to invest ₹18,000 crore in this initiative.
Strengthening India’s Critical Mineral Sector
Recognizing the crucial role of critical minerals in high-tech industries, clean energy, and defense, the Government of India has launched several initiatives over the past two years to address challenges in this sector.
NCMM aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and aims to make India self-reliant in critical minerals.
Comprehensive Value Chain Development
The mission will cover all stages of the critical mineral value chain, including:
- Exploration and Mining: Expanding mineral exploration within India and its offshore areas.
- Beneficiation and Processing: Enhancing mineral refinement capabilities.
- Recycling and Recovery: Recovering minerals from end-of-life products, overburden, and tailings.
- Stockpiling: Creating reserves of essential critical minerals.
To accelerate mining projects, the mission will establish a fast-track regulatory approval process. Additionally, it will offer financial incentives to encourage exploration and recovery.
Expanding Global Partnerships
The government aims to encourage Indian PSUs and private sector companies to acquire critical mineral assets abroad.
By strengthening trade with resource-rich nations, India can ensure a steady supply of critical minerals.
Infrastructure and Research Initiatives
The mission includes setting up mineral processing parks and supporting the recycling of critical minerals.
Furthermore, it promotes research and innovation through the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals.
Coordinated Government Effort
Adopting a whole-of-government approach, the mission will collaborate with relevant ministries, PSUs, private companies, and research institutions to achieve its goals efficiently.
Legislative and Policy Reforms
To support the initiative, the government amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, in 2023. As a result:
- The Ministry of Mines has auctioned 24 blocks of strategic minerals.
- The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has undertaken 368 exploration projects in the past three years, with 195 ongoing projects in FY 2024-25.
- In FY 2025-26, GSI plans to conduct 227 additional projects for various critical minerals.
Supporting Start-ups and Innovation
To bridge the gap between research and commercialization, the government launched the S&T PRISM (Science and Technology – Promotion of Research and Innovation in Start-ups and MSMEs) program in 2023.
The initiative funds start-ups and MSMEs, fostering innovation in critical mineral technologies.
Conclusion
The NCMM underscores India’s commitment to securing its critical mineral supply chain.
As reported by pib.gov.in, by enhancing domestic exploration, global partnerships, and innovation, the country is taking decisive steps toward self-reliance in this vital sector.
