**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's initiatives regarding critical minerals, e-waste recycling, and mineral security in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1877, answered on February 11, 2026. It outlines measures taken under the National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework 2020 and the establishment of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). The document highlights actions taken up to 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)**
* Established on 29.01.2025 to secure India's critical mineral supply chain and strengthen value chains.
* **Mineral Exploration Initiatives**
* Geological Survey of India (GSI) intensified exploration, undertaking 195 projects in 2024-25 and 230 projects in 2025-26.
* National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) sanctioned 62 projects in 2024-25 and 60 projects in 2025-26 for critical mineral exploration.
* **Legislative and Financial Measures**
* The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, amended in 2025 to expand the scope of NMEDT.
* ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme approved to promote critical mineral recycling from e-waste, spent lithium-ion batteries, and other waste, launched on 02.10.2025.
* Guidelines issued on 14.11.2025 for funding pilot projects for critical mineral recovery from overburden/tailings/ fly ash/ red mud, etc.
* **Mineral Block Auctions**
* The Central Government has successfully auctioned 46 blocks of critical minerals.
* The Central Government has successfully auctioned 7 Exploration License blocks, 3 of which are for critical minerals.
* **Centers of Excellence (CoEs)**
* Nine premier institutes recognized as CoEs under the NCMM to strengthen domestic capabilities in the critical mineral value chain.
* **Human Capital Development**
* 1,313 apprentices engaged during 2024-25 by Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Mines.
* **International Cooperation**
* MoUs signed with countries including Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Mozambique, Malawi, and Cote D'Ivoire for cooperation in geology and mineral resources.
* **Environmental Safeguards**
* Mandatory statutory clearances, including Environmental Clearance, required before granting mineral concessions for rare earth minerals.
* Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) are carried out by prospective lessees.
* **Empowering Geological Survey of India (GSI)**
* Adoption of advanced geophysical and geochemical mapping programs.
* Implementation of innovative survey techniques and advanced data processing for mineral discovery.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Mines**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for implementing the NCMM and achieving its objectives.
* Required to foster international collaborations for mineral resource exploration.
* Overseeing the execution of mineral exploration projects via the GSI and the NMEDT.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to oversee the implementation of the NCMM.
* Facilitate international cooperation through MoUs.
* Monitor and support the mineral exploration activities.
**Geological Survey of India (GSI)**
* **Impact**
* GSI plays a critical role in exploration and discovery of critical minerals.
* Requires adopting advanced survey techniques and integrating data for effective mineral prospectivity mapping.
* **Action Required**
* Intensify exploration of critical minerals and execute planned projects.
* Implement advanced survey techniques and data processing methods.
**Mining Lease Holders**
* **Impact**
* They have to obtain statutory clearances and implement environmental mitigation measures during mining operations.
* **Action Required**
* Conduct EIA studies and develop EMPs as part of the Environmental Clearance process.
* Implement environmental mitigation measures as approved.
Key Entities Referenced
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM): An initiative approved by the Union Cabinet to secure India's critical mineral supply chain and strengthen critical mineral value chains.
Ministry of Mines: The Indian government ministry responsible for initiatives related to critical minerals and the mining sector.
Geological Survey of India (GSI): A key agency involved in the exploration and assessment of critical minerals in India.
National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework 2020: A framework aiming to recover minerals and metals from e-waste in India.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957: A foundational act governing the mining sector in India, amended to expand the scope of mineral exploration.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1877
ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
NATIONAL NON-FERROUS METAL SCRAP RECYCLING FRAMEWORK 2020
1877. SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY:
SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the initiatives taken to include critical minerals in achieving net zero
and self sufficiency in energy;
(b) the details of the initiatives being taken to recover minerals and metals from e-
waste under the National Non-ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework, 2020;
(c) the details of the apprenticeship, upskilling and training initiatives to boost human
capital in mining sector;
(d) the overview of major MoUs and initiatives taken [Business to Business (B2B) and
Government to Government (G2G)] in areas like Latin America and Africa for
extraction of rare earth minerals;
(e) whether adequate environmental safeguards are being taken while plans for
extracting rare earth minerals are made, in India and abroad and if so, the details
thereof; and
(f) the steps taken to empower the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to accelerate
mineral security?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) and (b): The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the National Critical Mineral
Mission (NCMM) on 29.01.2025 with the objective to secure India's critical mineral
supply chain and strengthen critical mineral value chains for achieving self-sufficiency
and net zero targets. The details of various initiatives under this Mission, inter-alia,
includes the following:
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. Additionally, National Mineral
Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) has sanctioned 62 projects for
exploration of critical minerals during 2024-25 and 60 projects during 2025-26
(till date). The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957
has been amended in 2025 vide which the scope of NMEDT has been
expanded to support critical mineral exploration and mining overseas.
The Central Government has successfully auctioned 46 blocks of critical
minerals.
The Central Government has successfully auctioned 7 blocks of Exploration
License, out of which 3 are critical mineral blocks.
The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to promote
critical mineral recycling from e-waste, spent lithium ion batteries and other
waste. The Scheme Guidelines were issued and the Scheme launched on
02.10.2025.
Guidelines for funding pilot projects for the recovery of critical minerals from
overburden/ tailings/ fly ash/ red mud, etc. have been issued on 14.11.2025.
The Government has recognised nine premier institutes as Centres of
Excellence (CoEs) under the NCMM to carry out research & development
(R&D) for strengthening domestic capabilities in the critical mineral value chain.
(c): To boost human capital in the mining sector, 1,313 apprentices were engaged
during 2024-25 by the Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSEs) under the Ministry
of Mines.
(d): To foster cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources which include
rare earth minerals, the Ministry of Mines has signed MoUs with various countries such
as Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Mozambique, Malawi and Cote
D’Ivoire.
(e): Before grant of mineral concessions including for rare earth minerals, it is
mandatory to obtain the requisite statutory clearances from various departments of the
Central Government and respective State Governments, including Environmental
Clearance. As part of grant of Environmental Clearance, the prospective lessees carry
out Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and submit the Environment Management
Plan (EMP) based on scientific study by taking into consideration likely impact of
project activity on the baseline environment. The mining lease holders implement the
environmental mitigation measures as approved during grant of Environmental
Clearance.
(f): The steps taken to enable Geological Survey of India (GSI) to promote mineral
security include adoption of mineral discovery projects viz. Advanced Geophysical
(National Geophysical Mapping, National Aero-Geophysical Mapping, drone based
geophysical mapping) & Geochemical Mapping Programmes; innovative survey
techniques (Magneto Telluric survey, Multispectral/ Hyperspectral mapping, etc.); and
advanced data processing and integration (Regional Mineral Targeting, 3D predictive
modelling, Mineral Prospectivity Mapping using AI/ ML, etc.).
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