NITI Aayog Flags China’s Grip on Critical Minerals Supply

22 Sep 2025 CW Team

At the India Mining Summit 2025 in New Delhi, NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani raised concerns about the heavy concentration of the world’s critical mineral supply in China, warning that the issue has global implications.

Virmani noted that while critical minerals are found across the globe, nearly 80–90 per cent of metal processing and supply is controlled by China. “We would call that a monopoly,” he remarked, stressing the need to diversify global supply chains.

China’s position as the dominant producer of rare earth elements has triggered worldwide anxiety, particularly after it imposed export restrictions. Virmani said the challenge is not limited to India: “The whole world is scrambling to create new technologies. It benefits everybody except the monopolists.”

India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to boost domestic exploration, processing and recycling. Virmani also highlighted opportunities for collaboration with countries such as Peru and several African nations rich in untapped mineral reserves.

Responding to Taiwan’s interest in sourcing rare earths from India, Virmani cautioned that India is not a major producer except in specific resources such as iron ore and titanium-bearing monazite sands found in eastern states and Kerala.

He said renewed focus on rare earths would spur technological investigation and economic evaluation, ensuring India contributes to a competitive global supply chain.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..