Lok Sabha Question No. 4319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Key Objectives of NCMM
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4319 ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## KEY OBJECTIVES OF NCMM

4319. SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the key objectives and components of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM);
- (b) the role of Centres of Excellence and industry-academia partnerships in advancing research and development in the processing of the critical mineral;
- (c) the initiatives undertaken to encourage private sector participation and investment in exploration and refining of critical minerals; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  measures  adopted  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  domestic capacity, reduce import dependence and align the sector with national clean energy and strategic goals?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)

- (a) : The objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) are:
- i)   To  secure  India's  critical  mineral  supply  chain  by  ensuring  mineral  availability  from domestic and foreign sources.
- ii) Strengthening the critical mineral value chains by enhancing technological, regulatory, and financial ecosystems to foster innovation, skill development, and global competitiveness in mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recycling.

The components of the NCMM are:

1.  Increasing Domestic Critical Minerals Production
2.  Acquisition of Critical Mineral Assets Abroad
3.  Recycling of Critical Minerals
4.  Trade and Markets
5.  Scientific Research & Technological Advancement for Critical Minerals
6.  Human Resource Development
7.  Developing Effective Funding, Financing and Fiscal Incentives

(b): Ministry of Mines has recognised nine premier institutes as Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the NCMM to carry out Research & Development (R&D) and strengthen domestic capabilities in critical mineral processing. Each CoE operates as a consortium, on a Hub & Spoke model, to leverage the core competence of constituent industry and academic spokes. CoE plays a key role in advancing R&D in critical mineral processing by:

-  undertaking focused research to raise Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) up-to 7/8 in critical raw materials;
-  developing beneficiation, separation, extraction and recycling technologies for a wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary feedstocks;
-  designing and fabricating innovative process equipment, specialty chemicals and reductants essential for mineral processing; and
-  applying data analytics for optimisation of beneficiation and extraction processes.

(c): Ministry of Mines has taken several initiatives to boost private-sector participation and investment, as under:

1.  Exploration  Licenses  (E.L.)  regime  has  been  introduced  for  deep-seated  and critical minerals, under which, a share of auction premium will be payable to the EL holder, who explored it.
2.  43  Private  Exploration  Agencies  have  been  notified  for  taking  up  exploration projects with funding from National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT).
3.  The Ministry provides funding for Research and Development (R&D) projects to various Institutions/Laboratories/Start-ups/ MSMEs etc.
4.  To encourage, and incentivize private-sector participation in mineral exploration, scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration expenses has been introduced for holders of Composite Licences (CL) (reimbursement of up to 50%, subject to a ceiling  of  ₹8  crore)  and  holders  of  Exploration  Licence  (EL)  (up  to  50%  of expenses, with a maximum limit of ₹20 crore).

(d): To strengthen the critical mineral sector, the Ministry has undertaken several  measures, which inter alia include:

-  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI)  intensified  exploration  of  critical  and  strategic minerals. GSI carried out 195 critical mineral exploration projects in 2024-25, and 230 projects in 2025-26 across the country. Additionally, NMEDT has sanctioned 62 projects for exploration of critical minerals during 2024-25 and 65 during 202526.
-  The Mines and Mineral Development Act (MMDR), 1957 Act amended to expand the  scope  of  NMEDT  for  supporting  critical  mineral  exploration  and  mining overseas.
-  The  Ministry  of  Mines  has  successfully  auctioned  46  critical  mineral  blocks. Additionally, the Central Government has also successfully auctioned 7 blocks of Exploration License, which include three blocks of critical minerals.
-  The  Union  Cabinet  approved  a  ₹1,500  crore  Incentive  Scheme  to  develop recycling  capacity  for  the  separation  and  production  of  critical  minerals  from secondary  sources.   The  Scheme  Guidelines  were  issued  by  the  Ministry  on 02.10.2025 and scheme rolled out.
-  Guidelines  for  funding  Pilot  Projects  for  Recovery  of  Critical  Minerals  from overburden/tailings/fly ash/ Red mud etc. issued on 14.11.2025.
-  Khanij  Bidesh  India  Limited  (KABIL),  under  Ministry  of  Mines,  has  signed  an Exploration and Development Agreement with CAMYEN, a state-owned enterprise of  Catamarca  province  of  Argentina,  for  exploration  and  mining  of  five  Lithium Brine Blocks in Argentina covering an area of 15703 Ha.

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