Critical Minerals and India's National Critical Mineral Mission
Critical minerals — such as nickel, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements — are essential inputs for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy equipment, and electronics, and India is heavily import-dependent for most of them. Indonesia holds the world's largest nickel reserves, making it strategically important for India's electric-mobility and clean-energy ambitions.
- The Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in January 2025, with an outlay of approximately ₹34,300 crore over seven years, to build a resilient domestic value chain for critical minerals.
- A Ministry of Mines expert committee identified 30 critical minerals for India, including nickel, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements; 24 of these are listed in Part D of the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, as amended in 2023.
- Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) is the state-owned entity mandated to secure overseas critical mineral assets; it has signed agreements including one with Argentina's CAMYEN for lithium exploration (January 2024).
- Nickel is a key input for lithium-ion battery cathodes (e.g., NMC chemistry) used in electric vehicles; India has minimal domestic nickel reserves.
● Tracked since July 06, 2026 · last seen September 02, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief