Lok Sabha Question No. 4428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Implementation of Critical Mineral Mission
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Godam Nagesh, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Khagen Murmu, Dr. K Sudhakar, Shri Manoj Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4428

ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL MINERAL MISSION

## 4428.  SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

DR. K SUDHAKAR:

SHRI GODAM NAGESH:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of implementation of the Critical Mineral Mission announced in the Union Budget 2024-25;
- (b) the key milestones achieved under the Mission so far particularly in the areas of exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and recovery of critical minerals;
- (c) whether a dedicated institutional framework or nodal agency has been established to operationalise the Critical Mineral Mission;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the complete details of critical mineral mines discovered in the country; and
- (f) the details of exploration projects carried out in Rajasthan, year-wise since 2019?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (b) Following its announcement in the Union Budget 2024-25, the Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) on 29 January 2025 for the period 2024-25 to 2030-31. Key milestones achieved under the NCMM includes-
- i. GSI has carried out 195 critical mineral exploration projects in 2024-25. During 2025-26, GSI has taken up 230 projects for various critical minerals across the country.
- ii. The Ministry of Mines has recognized 7 institutes - 4 IITs and 3 Research and Development (R&D) Labs - as Centres of Excellence (CoE) under NCMM.
- iii. The Notice Inviting Tenders (NITs) for the first tranche of auction of 13 mineral blocks for grant of Exploration Licence has been issued on 13 th  March, 2025. This comprises of some blocks for critical minerals like Rare Earth Elements (REE), Platinum Group of Elements (PGEs), Vanadium etc.
- iv. In  order  to  enhance  domestic  production  of  critical  and  strategic  minerals, Central Government has auctioned 34 blocks for critical and strategic minerals during the 2024-2025 and the current year.
- v. The scope of the Science and Technology-Promoting Innovations in Startups and MSMEs (S&T-PRISM) scheme of Ministry of Mines to support Research and Development, has been expanded in May 2025 to incorporate the NCMM subcomponent on 'Setting up pilot projects for Critical Mineral Recovery' with a financial outlay of ₹100 crore.
- vi. During 2025-26 Budget, duty exempted on cobalt powder and waste, the scrap of lithium-ion battery, Lead, Zinc and 12 more critical minerals.
- vii. In November 2024, the Ministry of Mines has launched the First Tranche of Auction  for  13  mineral  blocks  in  the  offshore  areas  including  7  blocks  of polymetallic nodules and crusts which have several critical minerals.

(c) & (d)   A whole of Government approach has been adopted to implement NCMM and its activities are coordinated by an Empowered Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary with Secretaries of other relevant Ministries as members. The Ministry of Mines is the administrative Ministry and a dedicated team has been established in the Ministry of Mines with a Joint Secretary designated as Mission Head.

(e) Government has specified 24 minerals as Critical and Strategic minerals under Part D of first schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957. There are 22 (non-auctioned) working mines of critical minerals in the country (Graphite-10, Rock phosphate-6, and Tin-6). In addition to these mines, 59 blocks have  been  auctioned  for  critical  minerals.  Mineral-wise  details  of  the  same  are  at Annexure-I.

(f)  Since  2019-20  to  2024-25,  GSI  has  taken  up  343  mineral  exploration  projects (G2/G3/G4  level)  on  various  mineral  commodities  in  Rajasthan  including  130 exploration projects on critical minerals. During 2025-26, GSI has taken up 79 mineral exploration  projects  in  Rajasthan  for  various  mineral  commodities  including  36  for critical minerals.

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## Annexure-I

| Minerals                                  | Composite Licence (CL)   | Mining Lease (ML)   |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|
| Cobalt, Manganese and Iron                | 1                        |                     |
| Glauconite                                | 5                        |                     |
| Graphite                                  | 11                       | 7                   |
| Graphite and Basemetal                    | 1                        |                     |
| Graphite and Manganese Ore                |                          | 2                   |
| Graphite and Vanadium                     | 4                        | 2                   |
| Lithium and REE                           | 1                        |                     |
| Ni, Cr and associated PGE Minerals        | 4                        |                     |
| Ni, Cr, Co and Associated Mineral Mineral | 1                        |                     |
| Phosphate and REE                         | 1                        |                     |
| Phosphorite                               | 7                        | 1                   |
| Phosphorite and Limestone                 | 2                        |                     |
| Potash and Halite                         | 2                        |                     |
| REE                                       | 1                        |                     |
| Rock Phosphate                            | 3                        | 1                   |
| Tungsten                                  | 1                        |                     |
| Tungsten and Associated Mineral           | 1                        |                     |
| Total                                     | 46                       | 13                  |