Overview
- Launched by the Government of India in 2025.
- Total outlay of ₹34,300 crore for a period of seven years.
- Designed to build a secure, self-reliant and resilient critical mineral ecosystem.
- Anchored by the Ministry of Mines.
Objectives
- Secure India’s critical mineral supply chain from domestic and overseas sources.
- Strengthen the entire value chain from exploration to recycling.
- Promote technological innovation and global competitiveness.
- Encourage private sector participation and international partnerships.
- Reduce import dependence in strategically important minerals.
Key Components
Domestic Exploration and Production
- Intensified exploration in onshore and offshore areas.
- Expansion of mining and beneficiation capacity.
- Creation of strategic stockpiles of critical minerals.
Overseas Asset Acquisition
- Encourage Indian PSUs and private firms to acquire mineral assets abroad.
- Diversify supply sources through partnerships with resource-rich countries.
Processing and Recycling
- Establish mineral processing parks.
- Promote recycling from e-waste, battery scrap and industrial waste.
- Support circular economy approaches in mineral usage.
Research and Technology
- Establish a Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals.
- Promote R&D in extraction, refining and substitution technologies.
- Encourage innovation in battery and advanced material technologies.
Human Resource Development
- Specialised skill development programmes.
- Academic–industry collaboration in mineral technologies.
Financial and Regulatory Support
- Fiscal incentives for exploration and mining.
- Streamlined regulatory approvals.
- Improved access to funding and risk-sharing mechanisms.
Meaning of Critical Minerals
- Minerals essential for economic development, national security and clean energy transition.
- Characterised by high supply risk due to import dependence or geopolitical concentration.
- In 2023, India identified 30 critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, graphite, copper and others.
Strategic Importance
Clean Energy Transition
- Solar power relies on silicon, tellurium, indium and gallium.
- Wind energy depends on rare earth elements for turbine magnets.
- Energy storage systems require lithium, cobalt and nickel.
Electric Mobility
- Lithium-ion batteries are central to EV expansion.
- Critical minerals are vital for battery manufacturing and grid storage.
National Security
- Used in defence electronics, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
- Supply disruptions can affect strategic sectors.
Link with Climate Goals
- Supports India’s target of reducing emissions intensity by 45 percent by 2030.
- Contributes to achieving 50 percent non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030.
- Critical for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Conclusion
The National Critical Mineral Mission represents a strategic shift toward securing mineral resources essential for clean energy, industrial growth and national security. By strengthening domestic production, promoting recycling and expanding global partnerships, India aims to build a resilient and future-ready critical mineral ecosystem.
