Union Minister Discusses Securing India's Critical Mineral Supply Chain
Inter-ministerial gathering led by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to brainstorm strategies for safeguarding the supply chain of precious minerals like rare earths and critical minerals.
In a recent meeting, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, along with Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy, and various central ministry officials, delved into aspects of securing the supply chains of essential Rare Earth and Critical Minerals crucial for the electronics industry, energy, and national security.
The heart of the discussion centered on strengthening the value chain—from mining to refining to end-use. Reddy highlighted the Modi government's effort to implement the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to make India self-reliant in minerals.
The meeting included participation from the Ministries of Atomic Energy, Steel, Heavy Industries, and Commerce. Reddy shared the meeting's proceedings on his post using the hashtag #Atmanirbhar at the end.
In a bid to ensure India's mineral self-sufficiency, the Modi government established the NCMM in 2025. Under this mission, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) assumed responsibility for conducting 1,200 exploration projects from 2024-25 to 2030-31.
A committee formed by the Ministry of Mines in November 2022 identified 30 critical minerals, with 24 of them included in Part D of Schedule I of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957). This designation gives the central government exclusive authority to auction farming licenses and composite licenses for these specific minerals.
It's also worth noting that the NCMM aims to secure India's critical mineral supply chain by ensuring mineral availability from domestic and international sources. The initiative is also intended to strengthen the value chains by enhancing technological, regulatory, and financial ecosystems to foster innovation, skill development, and global competitiveness in mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recycling.
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_{[1] Critical Minerals Contribution to India's Economy. (n.d.). The Energy Resources Institute (TERI). Retrieved from http://www.teriin.org/content/critical-minerals-contribution-indias-economy}
_{[2] National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM). (n.d.). Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Retrieved from https://mines.gov.in/writeReadData/UserFiles/File/PDF/NCMM.pdf}
_{[3] Rare Earth and Critical Minerals: The Global Supply-Demand Scenario and India's Role. (2021, August 30). The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Retrieved from http://www.teriin.org/content/rare-earth-and-critical-minerals-global-supply-demand-scenario-and-indias-role}
_{[4] The Path to Self-reliance: India and Critical Minerals. (2022, August 29). The Diplomat. Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/the-path-to-self-reliance-india-and-critical-minerals/}
_{[5] India's National Critical Mineral Mission's Strategic Intent. (n.d.). Mining Journal. Retrieved from https://www.mining-journal.com/mining/special-reports/indias-national-critical-mineral-missions-strategic-intent/}
- Amidst the ongoing discussions about India's critical mineral supply chain, an insightful analysis on the contribution of critical minerals to India's economy is accessible through premium content from The Tribune's experts.
- The Union Minister's recent meeting focused on securing essential mineral supply chains, including rare earth and critical minerals, aligns with the National Critical Minerals Mission's efforts to boost India's finance, business, and national security.
