India Launches Rs 163 Bn Mission for Critical Minerals

30 Jul 2025 CW Team

To reduce India’s reliance on imported lithium, cobalt, and other essential materials used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the Government of India has undertaken several reforms:

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR) was amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, which came into effect on 17 August 2023. The key provisions include:

Inclusion of 24 critical and strategic minerals in Part D of Schedule-I.
Removal of six minerals, including lithium, titanium, and niobium, from the list of atomic minerals and their addition to the list of critical and strategic minerals.
Introduction of Section 11D, authorising the central government to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licences for these minerals.
Grant of exploration licences for 29 minerals listed in Schedule-VII.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Mines has been authorised, via an order dated 21 October 2024 under Section 20A of the MMDR Act, to auction blocks for exploration licences. So far, 24 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned across four tranches in 2024.

Exploration activity has increased significantly. Over the last three years, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has conducted 368 exploration projects targeting critical and strategic minerals. In FY 2024–25, 195 projects are underway, with another 227 approved for the next financial year.

Additionally, 100 per cent FDI is permitted through the automatic route for mining and exploration of metal and non-metal ores. Foreign entities can either establish subsidiaries in India or invest in existing Indian companies to obtain exploration and mining rights.

To bolster the critical minerals ecosystem, the government has scrapped customs duties on 25 minerals and lowered Basic Customs Duties (BCD) on two others in the 2024–25 Union Budget.

This update was shared by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

According to the Ministry of Mines, the Union Cabinet has approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) on 29 January 2025. The Mission will run for seven years, from 2024–25 to 2030–31, with a proposed expenditure of Rs 163 billion and an expected investment of Rs 180 billion from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and other stakeholders. NCMM seeks to secure a long-term, sustainable supply of critical minerals and strengthen India’s mineral value chains—from exploration and mining to processing, beneficiation, and end-of-life recovery.To reduce India’s reliance on imported lithium, cobalt, and other essential materials used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the Government of India has undertaken several reforms:The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR) was amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, which came into effect on 17 August 2023. The key provisions include:Inclusion of 24 critical and strategic minerals in Part D of Schedule-I.Removal of six minerals, including lithium, titanium, and niobium, from the list of atomic minerals and their addition to the list of critical and strategic minerals.Introduction of Section 11D, authorising the central government to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licences for these minerals.Grant of exploration licences for 29 minerals listed in Schedule-VII.Furthermore, the Ministry of Mines has been authorised, via an order dated 21 October 2024 under Section 20A of the MMDR Act, to auction blocks for exploration licences. So far, 24 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned across four tranches in 2024.Exploration activity has increased significantly. Over the last three years, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has conducted 368 exploration projects targeting critical and strategic minerals. In FY 2024–25, 195 projects are underway, with another 227 approved for the next financial year.Additionally, 100 per cent FDI is permitted through the automatic route for mining and exploration of metal and non-metal ores. Foreign entities can either establish subsidiaries in India or invest in existing Indian companies to obtain exploration and mining rights.To bolster the critical minerals ecosystem, the government has scrapped customs duties on 25 minerals and lowered Basic Customs Duties (BCD) on two others in the 2024–25 Union Budget.This update was shared by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..