Parliament Question: Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 465 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 DEDICATED RARE EARTH CORRIDORS *465. SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has prepared a detailed plan for setting up Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in the country especially in Rajasthan and Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the recently launched Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Manufacturing Scheme will help in establishing India as a global exporter of high-end magnets for the defence and aerospace sectors;

(c) the achievements made so far by the Geological Survey of India in the field of enhancing rare earth ore resources;

(d) whether the Government has successfully integrated the facilities of IREL (India) Limited along with the new Rare Earth Corridor and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to develop rare-earth exploration, processing and manufacturing infrastructure in Odisha, particularly in Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ******Government of India Department of Atomic Energy STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *465 FOR REPLY ON 25.03.2026 REGARDING DEDICATED RARE EARTH CORRIDORS ASKED BY SMT.

MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR, SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) The Government has announced establishment of rare earths corridor in the union budget 2026-27 covering the state of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

(b) Yes. The Union Cabinet approved the scheme to promote manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) on 26th November, 2025 and the same was notified on 15th December, 2025. This initiative aims to establish 6,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of integrated REPM manufacturing in India, thereby enhancing self-reliance and positioning India as a key player in the global REPM market. The Scheme seeks to establish end-to-end REPM manufacturing capabilities within the country, from processing rare earth oxides, to producing metals and alloys, and finally manufacturing finished magnets.

(c) As on outcome of exploration activities for Rare Earth Elements, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has augmented cumulative REE ore resources of 763 million tonnes across the country, evaluated at different cut-off values and average grades since Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 (Annexure-I).

(d) IREL operates a Rare Earths Extraction Plant in Odisha and a Rare Earth refining Plant at Aluva in Kerala both of which align with the Corridor initiative. Government of India aims to integrate IREL’s facilities with the new corridors to expand domestic rare earth capacity, foster advanced manufacturing and accelerate India’s transition towards self-reliance and clean energy.

(e) Yes. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is carrying out integrated and multi-disciplinary exploration to identify and augment REE resources in beach sand minerals and hard rock terrains in potential geological domains of the country, including Odisha. AMD is presently carrying out exploration to identify additional resources of monazite (a mineral of REE and thorium) in the beach sand deposits along coastal tracts of the country, including Puri district, Odisha. However, AMD, is not carrying out exploration for REE in Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency, Odisha.

In addition, GSI over the last four years (2021-22 to 2024-25), has carried out 17 mineral exploration projects for Rare Earth Elements- Rare Metals (REE-RM), in the state of Odisha.

In 2025-26, GSI has taken up 3 mineral exploration projects in Nayagarh and Balangir districts for REE-RM, in Odisha (Annexure-II). GSI has been engaged in exploration activities for various mineral commodities such as manganese, gold, iron, nickel etc. in Kendujhar

(Keonjhar) district, Odisha, over the years. However, no exploration projects targeting REEs have been undertaken by GSI in the Keonjhar district. **********Annexure-I State-wise cumulative resource augmented by GSI for REE at various cut-off and grades since MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 Resource in Million Tonne Sl. State REE-RM Sl. State REE-RM No. No.

1 Assam 30.51 7 Maharashtra 76.6 2 Arunachal 2.15 8 Rajasthan 83.59 Pradesh 3 Bihar 81.03 9 Uttar Pradesh 0.342 4 Gujarat 459.99 10 Tamil Nadu 4.62 5 Jharkhand 0.0092 11 Telangana 10.85 6 Karnataka 13.11 12 West Bengal 0.68 Total 763Annexure-II The details of mineral exploration projects taken up on REE-RM by GSI in the state of Odisha since 2021-22 to 2025-26 Sl FS Year State District Name of UNFC Mineral No. Mineral Block/ Stage Commodity Area 1 2021-22 Odisha Nayagarh Khuntapada- G4 REE, RM Purushottampura 2 Odisha Boudh and Damamunda- G4 REE, RM Subarnapur Bilasapur 3 Odisha Koraput Koraput G4 REE, RM 4 Odisha Balangir Ampali- G4 Basemetal, Badipura- graphite and Saintala REE 5 2022-23 Odisha Sundargarh Garjanjor G3 Phosphorite, REE 6 Odisha Boudh and Gabjor G4 REE, RM Sonepur 7 Odisha Nayagarh Notara- G4 REE, RM Baulasahi 8 2023-24 Odisha Nayagarh Khuntapada- G3 REE, RM Arkhapal 9 Odisha Angul Debinagar G4 REE 10 Odisha Ganjam Kumbharajholi- G4 REE, RM Borada 11 2024-25 Odisha Nayagarh Koriekahania- G3 REE, RM Baulasahi- Badbhuin 12 Odisha Nuapara Bhela-Babupalli- G4 REE, RM, PGE Udaybandh 13 Odisha Jharsuguda Kholdipa- Ghicha G4 REE, RM mura 14 Odisha Boudh Palsagora- G4 REE, RM Pindapadar 15 Odisha Koraput Dammaparha- G4 Tin, REE Mathili 16 Odisha Angul Debinagar east G4 REE 17 Odisha Nuapara Rajna– G4 REE, RM, PGE Mahulpadar 18 2025-26 Odisha Nayagarh Notara- G3 REE, RM Tentuliapalli-Ikiri 19 Odisha Nayagarh Sankhei- G3 REE, RM Tentuliapalli- Nachhipur 20 Odisha Balangir Tepren-Shibatala G4 REE, RM