India’s Critical Mineral Mission: Securing the Minerals of Tomorrow

India’s Critical Mineral Mission: Securing the Minerals of Tomorrow

 

1. Introduction

Launched in January 2025, the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is India’s 7-year strategic blueprint (2024–25 to 2030–31) to secure supply chains of essential minerals critical for clean energy, electronics, transport, and defense. With ₹16,300 crore in government expenditure and ₹18,000 crore expected from PSUs, it aims to ensure mineral self-reliance and technological independence.

 

2. What are Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are essential for economic growth, clean energy, and national security, with supply chains vulnerable to disruption. India’s 2023 list identifies 30 critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, titanium, rare earth elements (REE), copper, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium.

 

3. Importance for India’s Clean Energy Transition
4. a) Solar Energy – Photovoltaic cells depend on silicon, indium, gallium, and tellurium; crucial for India’s 64 GW solar capacity.
5. b) Wind Power – Magnets in turbines use neodymium and dysprosium; vital for the 2030 target of 140 GW wind capacity.
6. c) Electric Vehicles – Batteries require lithium, nickel, and cobalt; with 30% EV penetration target by 2030.
7. d) Energy Storage – Lithium-ion systems rely on lithium, cobalt, and nickel to store renewable power.

 

4. Policy and Institutional Framework

The Mission is anchored under the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), empowering the Centre to auction 24 of 30 critical minerals. It focuses on exploration, processing, recycling, R&D, and human resource development.

 

5. Recycling and Circular Economy

A ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme supports recycling of critical minerals from e-waste, EV batteries, and vehicle scrap. Targets include:

– 270 kilo ton annual recycling capacity

– 40 kilo ton of mineral output

– ₹8,000 crore investment

– 70,000 new jobs

 

6. Innovation and Patent Targets

NCMM aims for 1,000 patents by FY 2030–31 to advance mineral technologies. Between May–June 2025, 62 patents were filed and 10 granted, covering materials like lithium, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, and tantalum—crucial for defense, batteries, and electronics.

 

7. Centres of Excellence (CoEs)

Seven premier institutions designated as CoEs:

– IIT Bombay

– IIT Hyderabad

– IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

– IIT Roorkee

– CSIR–IMMT Bhubaneswar

– CSIR–NML Jamshedpur

– NFTDC Hyderabad

These centres lead R&D, processing innovation, and mineral exploration under NCMM.

 

8. Strategic Initiatives

– ₹100 crore pilot projects to extract minerals from non-traditional sources (fly ash, red mud, mine tailings)

– Development of processing parks and mineral stockpiles

– Encouraging global asset acquisitions by Indian PSUs and private firms

– Workforce training and strategic reserves creation

 

9. Broader Vision

India’s mineral strategy under NCMM aligns with its climate goals:

– Reduce GDP emission intensity by 45% by 2030 (from 2005)

– Achieve 50% non-fossil power capacity by 2030

– Reach net-zero emissions by 2070

NCMM thus positions India as a global hub for clean technology, supply chain security, and innovation in mineral processing.

 

10. Conclusion

Critical minerals are the foundation of a green, secure, and industrially advanced India. Through the National Critical Mineral Mission, the country is moving toward energy self-sufficiency, technological innovation, and global leadership in the minerals of tomorrow.

 

MCQ

1. The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was launched in which year?

(a) 2024

(b) 2025

(c) 2023

(d) 2026

 

2. The proposed government expenditure for NCMM is approximately:

(a) ₹10,000 crore

(b) ₹16,300 crore

(c) ₹18,000 crore

(d) ₹20,000 crore

 

3. The expected investment from PSUs and other stakeholders under NCMM is:

(a) ₹16,300 crore

(b) ₹18,000 crore

(c) ₹15,000 crore

(d) ₹20,000 crore

 

4. NCMM is primarily designed to ensure:

(a) Only mining growth

(b) Energy security, industrial growth, and technological independence

(c) Foreign mineral dependence

(d) Only export promotion

 

5. Which of the following is NOT included in India’s list of 30 critical minerals?

(a) Lithium

(b) Titanium

(c) Coal

(d) Vanadium

 

6. Critical minerals are essential for:

(a) Agriculture only

(b) Economic development and national security

(c) Textile industry

(d) Tourism

 

7. The mineral vital for solar photovoltaic cells include:

(a) Lithium and cobalt

(b) Silicon, indium, gallium, tellurium

(c) Nickel and copper

(d) Neodymium and dysprosium

 

8. Which minerals are essential for wind turbine magnets?

(a) Lithium and cobalt

(b) Nickel and titanium

(c) Neodymium and dysprosium

(d) Silicon and tellurium

 

9. Which minerals are key for electric vehicle batteries?

(a) Lithium, nickel, cobalt

(b) Silicon, indium, tellurium

(c) Copper, gallium

(d) Zirconium, hafnium

 

10. Energy storage using lithium-ion batteries depends on:

(a) Lithium, cobalt, nickel

(b) Copper, gold, silver

(c) Titanium, tungsten, vanadium

(d) Graphite, bismuth, antimony

 

11. How many years is NCMM planned for?

(a) 5

(b) 6

(c) 7

(d) 8

 

12. How many critical minerals can the Central Government auction under MMDR Act?

(a) 30

(b) 24

(c) 20

(d) 15

 

13. The NCMM incentive scheme for recycling is worth:

(a) ₹1,000 crore

(b) ₹1,500 crore

(c) ₹2,000 crore

(d) ₹2,500 crore

 

14. The annual recycling capacity target under NCMM is:

(a) 100 kilo ton

(b) 270 kilo ton

(c) 500 kilo ton

(d) 350 kilo ton

 

15. How many kilo ton of critical minerals is NCMM expected to produce via recycling?

(a) 20

(b) 30

(c) 40

(d) 50

 

16. Approximately how many jobs is NCMM recycling scheme expected to generate?

(a) 50,000

(b) 60,000

(c) 70,000

(d) 80,000

 

17. NCMM targets how many patents by 2030–31?

(a) 500

(b) 750

(c) 1,000

(d) 1,500

 

18. How many patents were filed in May 2025 in the critical mineral sector?

(a) 21

(b) 31

(c) 41

(d) 51

 

19. How many patents were filed in June 2025?

(a) 21

(b) 31

(c) 41

(d) 51

 

20. Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under NCMM include how many IITs?

(a) 3

(b) 4

(c) 5

(d) 6

 

21. How many research laboratories are designated as CoEs under NCMM?

(a) 2

(b) 3

(c) 4

(d) 5

 

22. Which of the following is NOT an NCMM CoE?

(a) IIT Bombay

(b) IIT Delhi

(c) CSIR–NML Jamshedpur

(d) NFTDC Hyderabad

 

23. Pilot projects under NCMM aim to extract minerals from:

(a) Only traditional mines

(b) Industrial byproducts like fly ash, red mud, mine tailings

(c) Ocean floors only

(d) Imported ores

 

24. NCMM aims to reduce import dependency via:

(a) Recycling and domestic exploration

(b) Increased imports

(c) Only foreign acquisitions

(d) Export restrictions

 

25. India’s target for solar capacity is:

(a) 50 GW

(b) 64 GW

(c) 100 GW

(d) 140 GW

 

26. Target for wind energy by 2030 under India’s clean energy plan is:

(a) 100 GW

(b) 120 GW

(c) 140 GW

(d) 160 GW

 

27. NCMM aligns with India’s climate goal of reducing GDP emission intensity by:

(a) 30% by 2030

(b) 35% by 2030

(c) 45% by 2030

(d) 50% by 2030

 

28. India aims for net-zero emissions by:

(a) 2050

(b) 2060

(c) 2070

(d) 2080

 

29. NCMM’s vision includes:

(a) Only domestic mining

(b) Global supply chain participation and innovation

(c) Importing all minerals

(d) Restricting private sector participation

 

30. NCMM pilot projects fund allocation is:

(a) ₹50 crore

(b) ₹75 crore

(c) ₹100 crore

(d) ₹150 crore