Executive Summary:
This document presents the Indian Ministry of Mines' response to questions regarding the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and related mineral exploration and production. The NCMM was approved on January 29, 2025, with initial funding allocated in FY 2024-25 and further allocation in FY 2025-26. The document outlines exploration efforts, operationalization plans, strategies for copper self-reliance, and production targets for critical magnet materials.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM):
Approved on January 29, 2025, for a period up to 2030-31.
Financial allocation: ₹1 Lakh in FY 2024-25, ₹410 Crore in FY 2025-26.
Mineral Exploration Projects:
Geological Survey of India (GSI) completes exploration projects within 15-18 months.
628 projects focused on critical and strategic minerals were undertaken from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
228 new exploration projects targeting critical and strategic minerals initiated in FY 2025-26.
GSI has augmented resources for lithium, rare earth elements (REE), cobalt, and graphite (details in Annexure I).
Operationalization in North East India:
5 limestone blocks in Assam and 4 blocks of critical minerals in Arunachal Pradesh were auctioned in 2024-25.
Operationalization depends on post-auction clearances, including prospecting schemes, geological exploration, environmental and forest clearances, land acquisition, and infrastructure development.
Copper Self-Reliance Strategy:
MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, introduced exploration licenses for 29 critical and deep-seated minerals, including copper.
Import duty eliminated on copper ore concentrate (HS code 2603) and copper blister (HS Code 74020010) under Union Budget 2024-25.
Vision Document on Copper released on July 4, 2025, focusing on scaling up secondary refining, enhancing domestic recycling, and securing overseas mineral assets.
Production of Critical Magnet Materials:
Production data for Neodymium Praseodymium (NdPr) and Samarium oxide/oxalate provided for 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25.
Deposits with Augmented Resources:
Lithium: 12.92 Mt in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh.
REE: 482.6 Mt in Gujarat, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.
Cobalt: 1.8 Mt in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh.
Graphite: 93.8 Mt in Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India (Ministry of Mines):
Impact: Responsible for implementing the NCMM, monitoring exploration projects, and ensuring copper self-reliance.
Action Required: Continue funding and overseeing the NCMM, streamline clearance processes for mining projects, and implement strategies outlined in the Vision Document on Copper.
Geological Survey of India (GSI):
Impact: Conducts exploration projects for critical and strategic minerals.
Action Required: Continue exploration efforts, focusing on lithium, REE, cobalt, and graphite, and adhere to the 15-18 month timeframe for project completion.
Mining Companies/Licensees:
Impact: Involved in exploration, mining, and processing of critical minerals.
Action Required: Obtain necessary clearances post-auction, develop infrastructure, and operationalize auctioned blocks efficiently.
Copper Industry (Smelters, Refiners):
Impact: Benefits from increased domestic ore production and elimination of import duties.
Action Required: Utilize domestic feedstock, enhance recycling efforts, and contribute to the goal of copper self-reliance.
Rare Earth Magnet Manufacturers:
Impact: Dependent on the production of NdPr and Samarium oxide/oxalate.
Action Required: Monitor production levels and collaborate with the government to achieve self-sufficiency in critical magnet materials.
Key Entities Referenced
National Critical Mineral Mission: A government initiative approved on 29th January 2025, aimed at securing the supply of critical minerals for India. Funds are allocated for exploration, mining, and processing projects.
Geological Survey of India: An organization undertaking critical mineral exploration projects across the country, assessing new deposits of lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and graphite.
MMDR Amendment Act, 2023: An amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, effective from 17.08.2023, aimed at expanding domestic mining capacity for critical and strategic minerals.
Viksit Bharat 2047: A broader vision for India's development by 2047, which includes establishing a self-sufficient and sustainable copper ecosystem.
Union Budget 2024-25: The budget under which the import duty on copper ore concentrate and copper blister was eliminated to support domestic copper production.
Kutch Copper: Location of a copper smelter with an upcoming 1 million tonne capacity, highlighting the need for increased domestic ore production.
Jammu Kashmir: A state in India where lithium deposits have been augmented by the Geological Survey of India.
Arunachal Pradesh: A state in North East India where 4 blocks of critical minerals have been auctioned recently.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 476
ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
FUNDS UNDER THE NATIONAL CRITICAL MINERAL MISSION
476. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:
SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:
SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the details of funds disbursed under the National Critical Mineral Mission and
total number of exploration, mining, and processing projects that have been
sanctioned and completed so far during the last five years, year-wise;
(b) the details of the current completion rate of critical mineral exploration projects
undertaken by the Geological Survey of India and the detail numbers of new
deposits of lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and graphite that have been quantitatively
assessed;
(c) the timelines and action plans to operationalise mineral discoveries in North East
India including vanadium, graphite, rare earth elements and lithium;
(d) whether environmental or land-use clearances have been obtained and if so, the
details thereof;
(e) the details of strategy Government have adopted to support copper self-reliance
through increased domestic ore production, in light of the upcoming 1 million
tonne capacity at the Kutch Copper smelter; and
(f) the details of the total production target achieved so far toward India’s goal of
self-sufficiency in critical magnet materials?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was approved on 29th January 2025
for a period upto 2030-31. During 2024-25, a token amount of ₹1 Lakh was allocated.
During the current FY 2025-26, ₹410 Crore has been allocated.
(b) In general, GSI completes the exploration projects within an optimized
timeframe of 15 to 18 months. In the last five years, since 2020-21 till 2024-25, GSIhad taken up 628 projects focused on various critical and strategic minerals. During
the current year 2025-26, 228 exploration projects targeting critical and strategic
minerals have been initiated across the country. Some of the deposits where GSI
has augmented resources for lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt and graphite
established at various grades and cut-offs through systematic exploration programs
since MMDR amendment Act,2015 are given in Annexure-I.
(c) & (d) 5 limestone blocks in Assam and 4 blocks of critical minerals in Arunachal
Pradesh have been auctioned recently in 2024-25. Mining projects have long
gestation period and the actual time taken for operationalization of the auctioned
block is dependent on the various approvals/clearances required after the auction of
the block such as submission of scheme of prospecting, completion of geological
exploration, environment clearance, forest clearance, land acquisition and
infrastructure development etc.
(e) The Government has adopted a comprehensive, future-oriented roadmap to
establish a self-sufficient, sustainable copper ecosystem aligned with the broader
Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The Central Government amended the MMDR Act, 1957
through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 with effect from 17.08.2023 with the
objective of expanding domestic mining capacity and reducing import dependence
for critical, strategic and deep-seated minerals.
Through the said amendment, a new mineral concession namely, exploration licence
has been introduced for 29 critical and deep-seated minerals including Copper. The
exploration licence granted through auction shall permit the licencee to undertake
reconnaissance and prospecting operations for critical and deepseated minerals
mentioned in the newly inserted Seventh Schedule to the MMDR Act.
To complement increase in domestic ore production to ensure easy feedstock
availability for domestic copper smelters and refiners, the import duty on copper ore
& concentrate (HS code 2603) and on copper blister (HS Code 74020010) has been
eliminated under the Union Budget 2024-25 announcement.
Besides, Government released the Vision Document on Copper on 4th July 2025,
outlining key strategic interventions to boost the entire copper value chain. It focuses
on scaling up secondary refining, enhancing domestic recycling, and reducing
dependence on open-market imports by securing overseas mineral assets through
global partnerships. These steps aim to ensure long-term availability of domestic
copper ore, reduce import dependence, and secure India’s position in the global
copper supply chain.(f) The critical magnet materials for production of Rare Earth (RE) magnets are
Neodymium -Praseodymium (NdPr) & Samarium oxide/oxalate. The production of
these materials over a period of three years is tabulated below:
Production (in tonnes)
Samarium Oxalate/ Oxide
Year Nd. Pr. Oxalate/ Oxide (99%)
(99%)
2022-23 7.478 157.93
2023-24 10.26 244.09
2024-25 7.266 245.69
*****Annexure-I
Sl. Commodity No. of Cumulative Location
No. Projects Resource
with augmented
resources at various
grades
(million
ton)
1 Lithium 6 12.92 Mt Jammu & Kashmir (Salal-Haimna);
Rajasthan (Rewat Hill), Chhattisgarh
(Kathgora) etc.
2 REE 36 482.6 Mt Gujarat (Ambadungar); Bihar
(Batesarthan); Maharashtra (Kawalapur,
Pipra-Mahegaon-Dongarla); Rajasthan
(North of Kalaur Ka Danta) ; Tamil Nadu
(Theni), Karnataka (Gundlupet) etc.
3 Cobalt 4 1.8 Mt Karnataka (Tarlagatta), Rajasthan
(Ladera), Andhra Pradesh
(Gumpamkonda) etc.
4 Graphite 26 93.8 Mt Madhya Pradesh (Tikara-Chiklar-
Gowthana and Golighat) ; Arunachal
Pradesh (Radphu and Phop), Jharkhand
(Karma); Odisha (Dandapani) ;
Jharkhand (Adhmaniya and Karma),
Chhattisgarh (Oranga-Revatipur) etc.