Critical Mineral Mission

The Critical Mineral Mission is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India to ensure a secure, resilient, and self-reliant supply chain of critical minerals that are essential for the country’s transition towards clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and high-technology industries. Announced in 2024–25, the Mission seeks to build comprehensive capabilities in the exploration, mining, processing, refining, recycling, and strategic stockpiling of critical minerals while reducing dependence on imports. It represents a crucial step in achieving India’s goals of energy security, sustainable development, and technological sovereignty.

Background and Need

Critical minerals are natural resources that are economically significant but whose supply chains are vulnerable to disruption due to geographical concentration, geopolitical factors, or limited domestic availability. These include minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper, rare earth elements (REEs), titanium, and niobium, among others.
As India advances its energy transition and digital industrialisation, demand for such minerals is increasing rapidly. They are essential components in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, electronics, defence systems, and advanced alloys. However, India imports a majority of these materials, making its industrial and clean energy ambitions highly dependent on foreign suppliers.
Recognising these vulnerabilities, the Government conceptualised the Critical Mineral Mission to develop an integrated value chain that strengthens domestic production, processing, and recycling while promoting international collaboration for resource acquisition.

Objectives of the Mission

The mission’s objectives can be summarised as follows:

1. Securing Supply Chains: To ensure the reliable availability of critical minerals through domestic exploration, international partnerships, and strategic reserves.
2. Self-Reliance and Economic Security: To reduce import dependency and build domestic capacity in exploration, mining, and value addition.
3. Value Chain Development: To establish India’s presence across the entire critical minerals ecosystem—from raw materials to end-use applications.
4. Sustainability and Recycling: To promote environmentally responsible mining and encourage recycling of end-of-life products to recover valuable minerals.
5. Research and Innovation: To foster indigenous technologies for extraction, refining, and processing of critical minerals.
6. Strategic Partnerships: To strengthen international collaborations with resource-rich countries through joint ventures, technology sharing, and supply agreements.

Key Features and Components

The Critical Mineral Mission operates as a coordinated programme involving multiple ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Mines, Geological Survey of India (GSI), and National Critical Minerals Committee. Its main components include:

1. Exploration and Resource Mapping:
   • Large-scale geological surveys and mapping exercises are being carried out to identify deposits of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and REEs.
   • The GSI has been assigned over 1,200 exploration projects to assess potential resources across Indian states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Karnataka.
2. Processing and Refining Infrastructure:
   • Development of specialised Critical Mineral Processing Parks equipped with advanced refining and beneficiation technologies.
   • Promotion of domestic refining capacity for minerals that are currently exported in raw or semi-processed form.
3. Overseas Acquisition and Supply Agreements:
   • Public sector enterprises such as Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) are tasked with acquiring stakes in mineral assets in countries like Argentina, Australia, and Chile—rich sources of lithium and cobalt.
   • Strategic partnerships with nations including Australia, Canada, and the United States to secure long-term supply chains.
4. Recycling and Circular Economy:
   • Establishing recycling plants for battery and electronic waste to recover critical minerals.
   • Incentives for industries to adopt circular economy models to reduce pressure on primary mining.
5. Research, Technology, and Skill Development:
   • Creation of Centres of Excellence in collaboration with academic and research institutions for developing indigenous technology in mineral extraction and refining.
   • Target of filing over 1,000 patents by 2030 in critical mineral technology domains.
6. Strategic Stockpiling:
   • Establishing national reserves of key critical minerals to ensure supply security during global disruptions or emergencies.

Institutional Framework

The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) operates under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Mines. Key implementing and coordinating bodies include:

• National Critical Minerals Committee (NCMC): Formulates strategies, monitors progress, and coordinates across ministries.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI): Leads exploration and geological assessments.
• Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM): Oversees mining regulations and data management.
• Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL): Manages overseas investments and partnerships.
• Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such as Hindustan Copper Ltd, NALCO, and MECL play active roles in mining and refining initiatives.

The mission is planned for the period 2024–25 to 2030–31, with an estimated financial outlay of over ₹16,000 crore, supported by additional investments from PSUs and private partners.

Significance of the Mission

1. Energy Transition and Net-Zero Goals: Critical minerals are indispensable for renewable energy technologies. Securing their supply supports India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and expanding renewable capacity.
2. Boost to Electric Mobility: The EV sector requires steady access to lithium, cobalt, and nickel for battery manufacturing. The Mission underpins the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan by ensuring these raw materials are available domestically or through reliable imports.
3. Strategic Autonomy: By reducing dependence on imports from a few countries, India strengthens its strategic autonomy and resilience against global supply shocks.
4. Industrial Growth and Employment: Domestic production and processing of critical minerals stimulate industrial development, attract investment, and generate employment opportunities in high-tech and mining sectors.
5. Technological Advancement: The emphasis on research and innovation accelerates the development of indigenous technologies in mining, refining, and materials science.

Challenges and Constraints

Despite its ambitious scope, the Critical Mineral Mission faces several challenges:

• Geological Uncertainty: Limited exploration and lack of detailed data on domestic reserves hinder planning and investment.
• Technological Gaps: India currently lacks large-scale refining and processing technologies for certain minerals like lithium and rare earths.
• Environmental Concerns: Mining and refining of critical minerals can pose significant environmental risks, including soil degradation, water contamination, and waste generation.
• Global Competition: Intense international competition for securing mineral assets and the dominance of certain countries (notably China) in processing could affect India’s access.
• Financial and Policy Alignment: Sustained funding, timely regulatory reforms, and coordination between the central and state governments are vital for smooth execution.

Future Roadmap

The mission envisions a phased implementation:

• Phase I (2024–26): Accelerated exploration, identification of resources, and setting up of institutional and regulatory frameworks.
• Phase II (2026–28): Development of processing and refining facilities, international collaborations, and expansion of domestic capacity.
• Phase III (2028–31): Integration of recycling, circular economy measures, and establishment of strategic reserves.

Additionally, the mission will align with India’s National Mineral Policy 2019, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives to ensure coherence across industrial, environmental, and economic policies.