India and France announced a Joint Declaration of Intent to deepen cooperation on critical minerals, citing their strategic importance for modern industry and clean energy transitions. The declaration sets a framework for collaboration across exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and research, and seeks to enhance resilience of supply chains. Both governments signalled intent to pursue coordinated policies to reduce reliance on single sources and to support sustainable practices in the sector.

The initiative aims to facilitate investment and technology sharing between public research organisations and private industry, and to encourage joint projects that span the value chain from ore to finished component. Emphasis was placed on fostering secure and diversified supplies of minerals that are critical for batteries, renewable energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. The partners indicated a preference for environmentally responsible extraction methods and improved recycling to reduce raw material dependency.

To operationalise the declaration, the two sides envisaged the establishment of expert working groups and technical exchanges to identify priority minerals and to harmonise standards. Collaboration on pilot projects, data sharing and joint research programmes is expected to accelerate development of processing capacity and downstream manufacturing. The declaration also envisages cooperation on regulatory best practice and investment facilitation to de-risk projects and attract long term private capital.

Officials indicated that closer India France cooperation on critical minerals could create new industrial opportunities and strengthen strategic autonomy for key technologies. The arrangement is presented as part of broader bilateral ties and as a response to global shifts in demand for minerals essential to decarbonisation and digitalisation. Follow up consultations and stakeholder engagement are expected to refine implementation and to track progress on agreed priorities.