**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Government of India's response to questions regarding India's import reliance on critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements (REEs). It outlines the government's efforts through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), and other initiatives to secure mineral assets, promote domestic exploration, and strengthen the critical mineral supply chain. The NCMM spans from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Import Reliance:**
* India significantly relies on imports for lithium, cobalt, and REEs.
* FY 2024-25 import figures: Cobalt (2425.6 tonnes), Lithium (2,997.1 tonnes), REE (13,006 tonnes).
* Major source countries for Cobalt: Canada, Belgium, Germany, China, USA, Japan, UK
* Major source countries for Lithium: Ireland, China, Chile, Argentina, Russia
* Major source countries for REE: China, Malaysia, UAE, Japan, Kenya, Australia
* **KABIL Initiatives:**
* KABIL signed an exploration and development agreement in Argentina and obtained exclusivity rights for 5 lithium blocks.
* KABIL completed the first phase of exploration (non-invasive).
* KABIL is conducting due diligence for lithium, REE, and other critical mineral projects for potential investment.
* **National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM):**
* The Union Cabinet approved the NCMM on 29.01.2025, spanning from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31.
* NCMM provides an overarching framework to secure India's critical mineral supply chain.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Geological Survey of India (GSI) intensified critical mineral exploration (195 projects in 2024-25, 230 projects in 2025-26).
* National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) sanctioned projects for critical mineral exploration.
* The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957 has been amended.
* 46 blocks of Critical and Strategic Mineral have been auctioned.
* 7 blocks have been auctioned under the Exploration Licence regime, out of which 3 are critical mineral blocks.
* The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to promote critical mineral recycling.
* Guidelines for funding pilot projects for recovery of critical minerals from overburden/tailings/ fly ash/ red mud, etc were issued on 14.11.2025.
* **NCMM Targets (FY 2024-25 to 2030-31):**
* Domestic Critical Mineral Exploration Projects: 1200
* Foreign Critical Mineral Mines: 50
* Incentive scheme for recycling - total materials recycled (kt): 400
* Patents in critical mineral value chain: 1000
* Skill development: 10000
* Mineral Processing Parks: 4
* Centre of Excellence: 3
* Mineral Stockpile (cumulative): 5
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of India:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing policies, strategies, and schemes related to critical mineral exploration, acquisition, and recycling to ensure supply security.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the progress of GSI, KABIL, and other initiatives; adjust strategies as needed to achieve NCMM targets.
**Domestic Industries (EV, Battery Storage, Defense, Renewable Energy):**
* **Impact:** Affected by the availability and cost of critical minerals for their production.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about government policies and initiatives; explore opportunities to collaborate in critical mineral exploration, processing, and recycling.
**Private Exploration Agencies (NPEAs)/Notified Exploration Agencies (NEAs):**
* **Impact:** Potential beneficiaries of NMEDT funding for critical mineral exploration.
* **Action Required:** Apply for NMEDT funding for exploration projects and comply with MMDR Act regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM): Approved by the Union Cabinet, it provides an overarching framework for securing India's critical mineral supply chain and strengthening critical mineral value chains.
Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL): Responsible for the acquisition of overseas mineral assets, production or supply security.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957: Governs the regulation and development of mines and minerals in India, amended to expand the scope of NMEDT to support critical mineral exploration and mining overseas.
National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT): Funds projects for critical mineral exploration; scope was expanded by amendment to MMDR Act.
Argentina: Location where KABIL signed an exploration and development agreement with a state-owned company of Catamarca Province to obtain exclusivity rights for exploration, development and mining in lithium blocks.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †827
ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
KABIL
†827. SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the percentage of India's total current demand for lithium, cobalt and rare earth
elements that are being met through imports and the details of the countries on which
such imports are dependent;
(b) the concrete achievements made by the Government so far since the
establishment of Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) with regard to the acquisition of
overseas mineral assets, production or supply security, project-wise details thereof;
(c) the Government's short-term, medium-term and long-term roadmap for domestic
exploration, commercial mining and processing of strategic minerals in view of the
growing requirements of the EV, battery storage, defence and renewable energy
sectors in the Country; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to give a legal and/or policy form to a National
Critical Minerals Strategy with respect to these minerals and if so, the time-bound
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): India’s import reliance for lithium, cobalt and REEs is significant. Top countries
from which India imported these critical minerals during FY 2024-25 are given below:
Critical Total Import Major Source Countries
Mineral (tonne)
FY 2024-25
Cobalt 2425.6 Canada, Belgium, Germany, China, USA, Japan,
UK
Lithium 2,997.1 Ireland, China, Chile, Argentina, Russia
REE 13,006 China, Malaysia, UAE, Japan, Kenya, Australia
Source: Department of Commerce.(b): KABIL has signed an exploration and development agreement with a state-owned
company of Catamarca Province of Argentina on 15.01.2024 and obtained exclusivity
rights for exploration, development and mining in 5 brine type lithium blocks, covering
an area of about 15,702 Ha, in the Catamarca Province, Argentina. First phase of
exploration (non-invasive) has been completed.
Additionally, KABIL has done due diligence activities for identification of suitable
projects of Lithium, Rare Earth Elements and other critical minerals for potential
investment, on its own and with other Government companies of India, in various
countries having critical minerals.
(c) and (d): The Union Cabinet has approved the National Critical Mineral Mission
(NCMM) on 29.01.2025, for a period from 2024-25 to 2030-31, which provides an
overarching framework for securing India’s critical mineral supply chain and
strengthening critical mineral value chains.
Moreover, in view of the growing requirements of the critical minerals for EV, battery
storage, defence and renewable energy sectors etc, the Government has adopted a
comprehensive strategy and taken several initiatives, which inter-alia include the
following:
i. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has intensified exploration of critical minerals.
GSI carried out 195 critical mineral exploration projects in 2024-25, and took up
230 projects in 2025-26 across the country. In addition, the National Mineral
Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) sanctioned 62 projects for critical
mineral exploration during 2024–25 and 60 projects during 2025–26 to Notified
Private Exploration Agencies (NPEAs)/Notified Exploration Agencies (NEAs).
ii. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957
has been amended in 2025 whereby the scope of NMEDT has been expanded
to support critical mineral exploration and mining overseas.
iii. Since the amendment to the MMDR Act in 2023, Central Government has
successfully auctioned 46 blocks of Critical and Strategic Mineral. In addition,
7 blocks have been auctioned under the Exploration Licence regime, out of
which 3 are critical mineral blocks.
iv. The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to promote
critical mineral recycling. The Scheme Guidelines were issued and the Scheme
was launched on 02.10.2025.
v. Guidelines for funding pilot projects for the recovery of critical minerals from
overburden/ tailings/ fly ash/ red mud, etc were issued on 14.11.2025.Further, the NCMM outlines the following outputs/targets:
Key heads Total (FY 2024-25 to 2030-
31)
Domestic Critical Mineral Exploration Projects 1200
Foreign Critical Mineral Mines 50
Incentive scheme for recycling - total materials 400
recycled (kt)
Patents in critical mineral value chain 1000
Skill development 10000
Mineral Processing Parks 4
Centre of Excellence 3
Mineral Stockpile (cumulative) 5
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