India is taking decisive steps to strengthen its position in the global critical minerals landscape, with a renewed focus on expanding exploration activities and developing domestic value chains to cut reliance on imports, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said.
Addressing stakeholders in the minerals and metals sector, Singh highlighted the government’s commitment to unlocking the country’s critical mineral potential, noting that recent policy measures and incentives are being aligned to encourage exploration and private-sector investment. The move comes amid rising global demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements, driven by the rapid growth of clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, batteries, and advanced electronics.
Singh emphasised that India’s critical mineral endowment remains under-explored, and that more systematic exploration, backed by modern geoscientific techniques, can unlock significant reserves. He noted that expanding exploration activities will not only boost domestic availability but also help establish robust downstream industries, creating jobs and reducing vulnerability to global supply disruptions.
To support this objective, the government has been working on policy reforms and fiscal incentives aimed at making the mining and processing of critical minerals more attractive. These efforts include streamlining approval processes, enhancing geological data accessibility, and providing fiscal benefits to explorers and processors.
Singh underscored the importance of building integrated domestic value chains, from extraction to refining and manufacturing, to capture greater value within the country. He pointed to initiatives to strengthen mineral processing facilities, technology partnerships, and skills development as essential components of this strategy.
The minister also noted that India is engaging with global partners to leverage best practices, advanced technologies, and investment flows in critical mineral supply chains, while ensuring that environmental and sustainability standards are maintained.
The government’s focus on scaling up exploration and developing end-to-end capabilities is seen as a key step toward reducing import dependence, enhancing resource security, and positioning India as a competitive player in the global critical minerals ecosystem. Singh’s remarks signal a strategic shift in India’s approach to resource planning, aligned with broader goals of industrial expansion and energy transition.
