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India has stepped up its push to secure critical mineral resources, with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announcing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate exploration, strengthen domestic capabilities and reduce reliance on imports. The announcement came during the Governing Body meeting of the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust held at the GPOA Complex on March 26.
The meeting, co-chaired by Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Mines, representatives from state governments including Rajasthan, Telangana, and Maharashtra, and key scientific institutions such as the CSIR Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology and the Directorate General of Atomic Minerals under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Focus on lithium and emerging mineral demand
Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the urgency of scaling up exploration for lithium and other critical minerals to meet both global demand and India’s strategic requirements. He pointed to ongoing efforts in regions such as the Siwana Belt in Rajasthan and the Salal Hamna block in Jammu and Kashmir, calling for expansion into other promising areas.
The minister underlined that the country must move swiftly to secure these resources as they form the backbone of future technologies and industrial growth.
Startup-driven mining ecosystem
A key pillar of the government’s approach is the creation of a startup-driven mining ecosystem. Drawing parallels with India’s biotechnology sector, Dr. Singh said targeted institutional support, incentives, and structured guidance could help startups innovate in exploration techniques and mining technologies.
He emphasised that enabling Indian companies to enter the sector would not only boost domestic capability but also introduce technological agility and competitiveness.
Private sector capacity and regulatory bottlenecks
The minister highlighted the need to strengthen Notified Private Exploration Agencies by improving their access to finance and technology while streamlining project approval mechanisms. Faster approvals, efficient procurement systems and timely permissions were identified as critical to sustaining exploration momentum.
He also acknowledged that forest clearances remain a major hurdle, often delaying projects, and called for coordinated efforts to resolve such issues.
Local participation and political coordination
In a move aimed at improving implementation on the ground, Dr Singh proposed involving Members of Parliament and state legislators in exploration areas. He said their participation could enhance coordination, build awareness among local communities and ensure smoother execution of projects.
Building end-to-end domestic supply chains
The government is also focusing on developing a robust domestic value chain, from extraction to processing and value addition. Efforts are already underway to establish processing capacities in states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
This, the minister noted, would strengthen India’s position in global mineral supply chains while reducing dependence on imports.
Balancing global collaboration with indigenous innovation
While acknowledging the importance of international partnerships for accessing advanced technologies, Dr. Singh stressed the need to prioritise indigenous research. Institutions such as CSIR IMMT and the Department of Atomic Energy were identified as crucial to driving innovation in the sector.
G Kishan Reddy, speaking at the meeting, reinforced the importance of critical minerals in India’s development trajectory. He called for prioritising exploration, expediting auctions, and ensuring greater participation from both states and private players.
The meeting also reviewed NMET’s ongoing work, including project approvals, financial support mechanisms, and startup initiatives, with a clear emphasis on improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and increasing awareness in mineral-rich regions about the long-term benefits of exploration.
