**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Mines provides an update on the implementation of the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), approved on January 29, 2025, following its announcement in the Union Budget 2024-25. The mission, spanning from 2024-25 to 2030-31, focuses on exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, and recovery of critical minerals. A dedicated institutional framework, coordinated by an Empowered Committee and headed by a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, has been established.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Mission Approval and Duration:**
* The Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) on January 29, 2025, for the period 2024-25 to 2030-31.
* **Exploration and Discovery:**
* GSI conducted 195 critical mineral exploration projects in 2024-25 and has taken up 230 projects in 2025-26.
* 34 blocks have been auctioned for critical and strategic minerals during 2024-2025 and the current year.
* First Tranche of Auction for 13 mineral blocks in offshore areas launched in November 2024.
* As of 2025 there are 22 non-auctioned working mines of critical minerals in the country: Graphite (10), Rock phosphate (6), and Tin (6). In addition to these mines, 59 blocks have been auctioned for critical minerals.
* **Institutional Framework:**
* An Empowered Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary coordinates NCMM activities.
* The Ministry of Mines is the administrative ministry, with a Joint Secretary designated as Mission Head.
* **Centres of Excellence:**
* 7 institutes (4 IITs and 3 R&D Labs) recognized as Centres of Excellence (CoE) under NCMM.
* **Financial Measures:**
* The Science and Technology-Promoting Innovations in Startups and MSMEs (STPRISM) scheme expanded to include a sub-component for pilot projects for Critical Mineral Recovery with a financial outlay of ₹100 crore.
* Duty exempted on cobalt powder and waste, the scrap of lithium-ion battery, Lead, Zinc and 12 more critical minerals during the 2025-26 Budget.
* **Auction and Licensing:**
* Notice Inviting Tenders (NITs) for the first tranche of auction of 13 mineral blocks for grant of Exploration Licence issued on March 13, 2025.
* **Critical and Strategic Minerals:**
* Government has specified 24 minerals as Critical and Strategic minerals under Part D of first schedule to the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act 1957.
* **Exploration Projects in Rajasthan:**
* From 2019-20 to 2024-25, GSI undertook 343 mineral exploration projects in Rajasthan, including 130 on critical minerals.
* In 2025-26, GSI has taken up 79 mineral exploration projects in Rajasthan, including 36 for critical minerals.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Ministry of Mines:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the overall administration and implementation of the NCMM. Must coordinate activities, manage the dedicated team, and oversee the mission's progress.
* *Action Required:* Continue to coordinate NCMM activities, manage the dedicated team, and oversee the mission's progress.
* **Geological Survey of India (GSI):**
* *Impact:* Tasked with conducting exploration projects for critical minerals across the country, impacting their workload and resource allocation.
* *Action Required:* Execute exploration projects as planned, focusing on the 230 projects for 2025-26, and provide data to support the mission's objectives.
* **Research and Development (R&D) Labs and IITs:**
* *Impact:* Recognized as Centres of Excellence, they are expected to contribute to research, development, and innovation in critical mineral exploration, extraction, and processing.
* *Action Required:* Focus on Research and Development and contribute to innovation in critical mineral exploration, extraction, and processing.
* **Auction Participants (Mining Companies):**
* *Impact:* Given opportunities to acquire mineral blocks through auctions, impacting their investment strategies and operational planning.
* *Action Required:* Participate in auctions, develop exploration and mining plans for acquired blocks, and contribute to increased domestic production of critical minerals.
Key Entities Referenced
Critical Mineral Mission: A government initiative focused on securing the supply chain of critical minerals for India.
Union Budget 2024-25: The annual financial statement of the Government of India, which announced the Critical Mineral Mission.
National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM): A government initiative approved on 29 January 2025 for the period 2024-25 to 2030-31 to focus on critical minerals exploration, extraction, and processing.
Geological Survey of India (GSI): An organization responsible for carrying out mineral exploration projects, including those for critical minerals.
Ministry of Mines: The government ministry responsible for the administration and regulation of mines and minerals in India and for implementing the NCMM.
Rajasthan: A state in India where mineral exploration projects, including those for critical minerals, have been carried out by the GSI.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957: An act specifying 24 minerals as Critical and Strategic minerals.
Rare Earth Elements (REE): A set of seventeen chemical elements that are considered critical minerals due to their economic importance and supply risk.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4428
ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL MINERAL MISSION
4428. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:
SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:
SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:
DR. K SUDHAKAR:
SHRI GODAM NAGESH:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of implementation of the Critical Mineral Mission announced in
the Union Budget 2024-25;
(b) the key milestones achieved under the Mission so far particularly in the areas of
exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and recovery of critical minerals;
(c) whether a dedicated institutional framework or nodal agency has been established
to operationalise the Critical Mineral Mission;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the complete details of critical mineral mines discovered in the country; and
(f) the details of exploration projects carried out in Rajasthan, year-wise since 2019?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) & (b) Following its announcement in the Union Budget 2024-25, the Union Cabinet
approved the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) on 29 January 2025 for the
period 2024-25 to 2030-31. Key milestones achieved under the NCMM includes-
i. GSI has carried out 195 critical mineral exploration projects in 2024–25. During
2025-26, GSI has taken up 230 projects for various critical minerals across the
country.
ii. The Ministry of Mines has recognized 7 institutes – 4 IITs and 3 Research and
Development (R&D) Labs – as Centres of Excellence (CoE) under NCMM.
iii. The Notice Inviting Tenders (NITs) for the first tranche of auction of 13 mineral
blocks for grant of Exploration Licence has been issued on 13th March, 2025.
This comprises of some blocks for critical minerals like Rare Earth Elements
(REE), Platinum Group of Elements (PGEs), Vanadium etc.iv. In order to enhance domestic production of critical and strategic minerals,
Central Government has auctioned 34 blocks for critical and strategic minerals
during the 2024-2025 and the current year.
v. The scope of the Science and Technology-Promoting Innovations in Startups
and MSMEs (S&T-PRISM) scheme of Ministry of Mines to support Research
and Development, has been expanded in May 2025 to incorporate the NCMM
subcomponent on “Setting up pilot projects for Critical Mineral Recovery” with
a financial outlay of ₹100 crore.
vi. During 2025-26 Budget, duty exempted on cobalt powder and waste, the scrap
of lithium-ion battery, Lead, Zinc and 12 more critical minerals.
vii. In November 2024, the Ministry of Mines has launched the First Tranche of
Auction for 13 mineral blocks in the offshore areas including 7 blocks of
polymetallic nodules and crusts which have several critical minerals.
(c) & (d) A whole of Government approach has been adopted to implement NCMM
and its activities are coordinated by an Empowered Committee headed by the Cabinet
Secretary with Secretaries of other relevant Ministries as members. The Ministry of
Mines is the administrative Ministry and a dedicated team has been established in the
Ministry of Mines with a Joint Secretary designated as Mission Head.
(e) Government has specified 24 minerals as Critical and Strategic minerals under
Part D of first schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act
1957. There are 22 (non-auctioned) working mines of critical minerals in the country
(Graphite-10, Rock phosphate-6, and Tin-6). In addition to these mines, 59 blocks
have been auctioned for critical minerals. Mineral-wise details of the same are at
Annexure-I.
(f) Since 2019-20 to 2024-25, GSI has taken up 343 mineral exploration projects
(G2/G3/G4 level) on various mineral commodities in Rajasthan including 130
exploration projects on critical minerals. During 2025-26, GSI has taken up 79 mineral
exploration projects in Rajasthan for various mineral commodities including 36 for
critical minerals.
*****Annexure-I
Composite Mining Lease
Minerals Licence (CL) (ML)
Cobalt, Manganese and Iron 1
Glauconite 5
Graphite 11 7
Graphite and Basemetal 1
Graphite and Manganese Ore 2
Graphite and Vanadium 4 2
Lithium and REE 1
Ni, Cr and associated PGE Minerals 4
Ni, Cr, Co and Associated Mineral
Mineral 1
Phosphate and REE 1
Phosphorite 7 1
Phosphorite and Limestone 2
Potash and Halite 2
REE 1
Rock Phosphate 3 1
Tungsten 1
Tungsten and Associated Mineral 1
Total 46 13