Lok Sabha Question No. 4191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Extraction of Critical Minerals from Tailings
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4191

## ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## EXTRACTION OF CRITICAL MINERALS FROM TAILINGS

4191. SHRI ARUN BHARTI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the technological advancements being promoted to extract critical minerals from tailings efficiently; (b) the details of the contribution of the recent budgetary exemption on cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery scrap, lead, zinc and other critical minerals in India's manufacturing sector; (c) the steps taken by the Government to formulate a policy for the recovery of critical minerals from tailings; (d)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  provide  incentives  to  encourage companies to invest in the recovery of critical minerals from mines tailings and if so, the details thereof; and (e)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  any  specific  fiscal  or  tax  incentives  to promote the recovery of critical minerals from industrial waste and tailings and if so,
- the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)    The Union Cabinet has approved the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) on 29 January 2025 with an expenditure of Rs. 16,300 crore over a period of seven years, from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31. NCMM also includes promotion of recovery of Critical Minerals from tailings by using various technologies. The Ministry of Mines has been promoting Research and Development (R&D) and technological innovation in mining  and  metallurgy  sector  and  also  funding  start-ups,  MSMEs  and  individual innovators  under  S&T-PRISM  (Science  &  Technology-Promotion  of  Research  and Innovation in Start-ups and MSMEs) for R&D studies and development of indigenous technologies for processing and extraction of critical minerals.

(b)        In the Union Budget 2025-26, the customs duty on waste and scrap of critical minerals  and  others  have  been  eliminated.  These  materials  will  provide  additional feedstock  to  India's  growing  recycling  sector.  This  will  benefit  India's  secondary producers by reducing their costs. This will also provide a level playing field vis-à-vis international secondary producers and enable Indian players to compete globally and increase exports of secondary / downstream products.

(c)  to  (e)    National  Critical  Mineral  Mission  (NCMM)  aims  to  secure  a  long-term sustainable  supply  of  critical  minerals  and  strengthen  India's  critical  mineral  value chains encompassing all stages from mineral exploration and mining to beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.

To promote recovery of critical minerals from overburden/tailings/fly ash/red-mud etc., the government has approved INR 100 Crores during the Mission period for setting up pilot projects for mineral recovery through novel methods by encouraging collaborations between industry, academia and research institutions.

The  NCMM also  includes  provision  of  Rs.  1500  Crore  for  providing  incentives  for setting up of recycling facilities.

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