Critical Mineral Blocks' Benefits Delayed

24 May 2024 CW Team

Icra has reported that the 38 critical mineral blocks recently put up for auction in India are unlikely to yield any substantial benefits within this decade, specifically by 2030. The primary reason cited is the incomplete exploration of these mines, which hampers the potential for commercialization and subsequent economic gains. This situation poses a significant challenge for India's downstream manufacturing sectors, which could face supply shocks, especially in critical minerals like lithium .

The government's initiative to auction these blocks, including notable lithium deposits in regions like Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, is part of a broader strategy to secure resources vital for the country's economic and technological advancement. However, the extraction of lithium from clay deposits presents specific challenges that add to the complexity of realizing these blocks' full potential within the projected timelines .

This delay in deriving benefits from the critical mineral blocks underscores a broader issue within the sector, where the pace of exploration and readiness for commercial mining lags behind the market demand. This gap could affect various industries, particularly those reliant on these minerals for manufacturing high-tech products, renewable energy solutions, and other applications critical to India's growth and environmental objectives .

The situation calls for a reassessment of strategies concerning the exploration and development of mineral resources in India. Enhanced technological approaches, better regulatory frameworks, and more robust industry-government collaboration may be required to expedite the exploration process and reduce the time from discovery to market.

Infrastructure Transport

10 Jul 2026

Uttar Pradesh unveils infrastructure-led growth roadmap at RAHSTA

Mumbai, 9 July 2026: Uttar Pradesh’s ambitious infrastructure-led growth strategy took centre stage on Day 2 of the 16th RAHSTA Expo, where senior government officials outlined how expressways, industrial corridors and technology-driven governance are transforming the state into one of India's most attractive investment destinations.Delivering the keynote address, Srihari Pratap Shahi, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), highlighted the state's long-term vision of integrating world-class expressways with industrial dev..

NCW closes PRIME Offices Fund at Rs 40 billion

Nuvama and Cushman & Wakefield Management (NCW) has announced the final close of its flagship PRIME Offices Fund at approximately Rs 40 billion, exceeding its original target of Rs 30 billion following strong investor demand.The fund was launched to provide Indian investors with access to institutional-grade commercial office assets across key office markets in the country. According to NCW, the increase in the fund size was supported by strong investor participation and the availability of investment opportunities in India's office sector.The fund has already committed around 45 per cent ..

Mayfair Housing adopts Autodesk Forma for digital project planning

Mayfair Housing has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with Autodesk to deploy Autodesk Forma, an AI-enabled cloud platform, as part of its digital transformation programme aimed at improving project planning and execution across its development and redevelopment portfolio.The platform will be integrated into the company's Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflow to support architects, planners and project teams during the early stages of design and development. Autodesk Forma combines real-world data, environmental simulations and collaborative workflows to facilitate data-d..