**Executive Summary**
This document provides the response to Unstarred Question No. 2799 in Lok Sabha on December 17, 2025, regarding Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM). It outlines the establishment of NCMM in January 2025 and the subsequent recognition of nine premier institutes as CoEs. The document also details the eligibility of these CoEs for financial support for R&D projects.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM):**
* NCMM was set up in January 2025 to strengthen domestic capabilities in the critical mineral value chain through focussed research & development (R&D).
* Guidelines for CoEs were issued in April 2025.
* **Recognition of Centres of Excellence (CoEs):**
* Existing academic and R&D institutions fulfilling prescribed criteria are recognized as CoEs.
* Nine premier institutes are recognized as CoEs under NCMM.
* **List of Recognized CoEs:**
* Maharashtra: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay (01.08.2025)
* Telangana: IIT, Hyderabad (01.08.2025)
* Telangana: Non Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Hyderabad (01.08.2025)
* Telangana: Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET), Hyderabad (24.10.2025)
* Uttarakhand: IIT, Roorkee (01.08.2025)
* Jharkhand: IIT - Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad (01.08.2025)
* Jharkhand: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) – National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur (01.08.2025)
* Karnataka: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru (24.10.2025)
* Odisha: CSIR – Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar (01.08.2025)
* **Operational Model:**
* Each CoE operates as a consortium on a Hub & Spoke model.
* The nine recognized CoEs have brought together over 80 industry and academic/ R&D spokes.
* **Financial Support:**
* The recognized CoEs under NCMM are eligible to seek financial support for specific R&D projects from any R&D scheme of the Government, including Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for critical mineral R&D.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Recognized CoEs**
* **Impact:** Recognized as entities supporting the National Critical Minerals Mission and are eligible for financial support for research and development.
* **Action Required:** Seek financial support for specific R&D projects from available government schemes, including ANRF.
**Stakeholder: Industry and Academia**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to collaborate with CoEs through the Hub & Spoke model and participate in R&D initiatives related to critical minerals.
* **Action Required:** Engage with CoEs to explore collaborative research and development opportunities.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:** Enhancement of domestic capabilities in the critical mineral value chain through focused R&D initiatives supported by the NCMM and CoEs.
* **Action Required:** Provide financial support to CoEs for R&D projects through relevant government schemes, including ANRF.
Key Entities Referenced
National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM): A mission for focussed research & development (R&D) to strengthen domestic capabilities in the critical mineral value chain.
Centres of Excellence (CoEs): Initiative under NCMM; existing institutions recognized for research on critical minerals.
Ministry of Mines: The government ministry responsible for matters related to mines in India.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): A R&D scheme of the Government which the CoEs under NCMM are eligible to seek funding from for critical mineral R&D.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2799
ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
CoEs UNDER CRITICAL MINERAL MISSION
2799. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:
SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the list of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) proposed, under construction
and presently functional across the country, State-wise;
(b) the details of the total number of individuals part of such CoE’s over the last five
years across the country, CoE-wise;
(c) the details of the total number of research initiatives proposed, under consideration
and presently implemented in each CoE;
(d) the details of the total amount of funding allocated, released and utilised during the
last five years, CoE-wise; and
(e) whether the Government has any plans of expanding the number of CoE’s in the
country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) to (e): Centres of Excellence (CoEs) is an initiative under the National Critical
Minerals Mission (NCMM) for focussed research & development (R&D) to strengthen
domestic capabilities in the critical mineral value chain. NCMM was set up in January
2025, following which the guidelines for CoEs were issued in April 2025. As per
guidelines, existing institutions including academic and R&D institutes, fulfilling
prescribed criteria, are recognized as CoEs. Nine premier institutes of the country
have been recognized as CoEs under NCMM. Details are as under:
State Name of recognized CoE Date of
recognition
Maharashtra Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay 01.08.2025
IIT, Hyderabad 01.08.2025
Non Ferrous Materials Technology Development 01.08.2025
Telangana Centre (NFTDC), Hyderabad
Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology 24.10.2025
(CMET), HyderabadUttarakhand IIT, Roorkee 01.08.2025
IIT – Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad 01.08.2025
Jharkhand Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) – 01.08.2025
National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur
Karnataka Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru 24.10.2025
Odisha CSIR – Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology 01.08.2025
(IMMT), Bhubaneswar
Each CoE operates as a consortium, on a Hub & Spoke model, to leverage the core
competence of constituent industry and academic spokes. The nine recognized CoEs
have together brought in over 80 industry and academic/ R&D spokes.
In line with ‘Whole of Government’ approach, the recognized CoEs under NCMM are
eligible to seek financial support for specific R&D projects from any R&D scheme of
the Government, including Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for
critical mineral R&D.
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