The Ministry of Mines reviewed the progress of the Rs 15 billion Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling, with Secretary (Mines), Piyush Goyal, assessing the implementation status alongside officials and representatives of the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research, Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur. JNARDDC, the Project Management Agency for the Scheme, reported a significant number of beneficiary registrations on the designated application portal.

The Scheme forms a key pillar of the National Critical Mineral Mission and aims to build an annual recycling capacity of three lakh tonnes for the extraction of critical minerals from secondary sources such as e-waste, spent lithium-ion batteries and industrial scrap. Approved by the Union Cabinet on 3 September 2025, it was launched with detailed guidelines on 2 October 2025 and will remain open for applications until 1 April 2026.

As part of its role, JNARDDC organised a workshop and stakeholder consultation on 21 November 2025, which drew participation from around 30 prospective beneficiaries, including start-ups, recyclers, technology developers and industry stakeholders. Attendees were guided through portal registration, eligibility norms, documentation requirements and incentive procedures, with operational queries addressed in detail. The PMA also provided hands-on support to participants navigating the online workflow to ensure accurate submissions.

During the review, the Secretary directed JNARDDC to continue holding such consultations throughout the Scheme period to support applicants and ensure smooth implementation. JNARDDC reaffirmed its commitment to providing helpdesk support and timely clarifications to all stakeholders.