**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Mines addresses the objectives, components, and collaborative efforts of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). The NCMM aims to secure India's critical mineral supply chain, strengthen value chains, and foster global competitiveness. Key initiatives include domestic exploration projects, foreign mine acquisitions, recycling incentives, and international partnerships with countries and organizations.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Objectives of NCMM:**
* Secure India's critical mineral supply chain from domestic and foreign sources.
* Strengthen value chains through technological, regulatory, and financial ecosystems.
* Foster innovation, skill development, and global competitiveness in mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recycling.
* **Expected Targets of NCMM (2024-25 to 2030-31):**
* 1200 Domestic Critical Mineral Exploration Projects
* 50 Foreign Critical Mineral Mines
* 400 kt Total Materials Recycled (incentive scheme)
* 1000 Patents in critical mineral value chain
* 10000 Skill development
* 4 Mineral Processing Parks
* 3 Centre of Excellence
* 5 Mineral Stockpile cumulative
* **Components of NCMM:**
* Increasing Domestic Critical Minerals Production
* Acquisition of Critical Mineral Assets Abroad
* Recycling of Critical Minerals
* Trade and Markets
* Scientific Research Technological Advancement for Critical Minerals
* Human Resource Development
* Developing Effective Funding, Financing and Fiscal Incentives
* **International Cooperation and Private Sector Participation:**
* Facilitation through seminars, meetings, roadshows, and coordination with Indian embassies.
* Bilateral MoUs with mineral-rich countries (Australia, Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi) and international organizations (IEA).
* Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) established for overseas mineral asset acquisition.
* Exploration and Development Agreement between KABIL and CAMYEN (Argentina) for Lithium Brine Blocks exploration and mining.
* Engagement in multilateral and bilateral platforms like Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), IndiaUS Strategic Mineral Recovery Initiative, the IndoPacific Economic Framework IPEF, and UKIndia Technology Security Initiative TSI.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Domestic Mineral Industry:**
* *Impact:* Increased exploration projects and mineral processing parks will lead to growth and innovation.
* *Action Required:* Participate in exploration projects, utilize recycling incentives, and contribute to skill development initiatives.
* **International Partners (Governments and Organizations):**
* *Impact:* Opportunities for collaboration in mineral exploration, mining, and technology transfer.
* *Action Required:* Engage in bilateral agreements, participate in multilateral platforms, and explore joint ventures.
* **Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for acquiring and developing overseas mineral assets.
* *Action Required:* Execute exploration and development agreements, and manage international mineral assets.
* **Ministry of Mines:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall implementation and monitoring of the NCMM.
* *Action Required:* Facilitate international and private sector collaboration, develop effective funding mechanisms, and coordinate with stakeholders.
Key Entities Referenced
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM): A Government of India initiative under the Ministry of Mines to secure India's critical mineral supply chain.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: The Minister of Coal and Mines who answered the question regarding NCMM.
Australia: One of the countries with which the Ministry of Mines has entered into bilateral MoUs for developing cooperation in the mineral sector.
Argentina: One of the countries with which the Ministry of Mines has entered into bilateral MoUs for developing cooperation in the mineral sector. KABIL has signed an agreement with CAMYEN for Lithium Brine Blocks in Catamarca province, Argentina.
Zambia: One of the countries with which the Ministry of Mines has entered into bilateral MoUs for developing cooperation in the mineral sector.
Peru: One of the countries with which the Ministry of Mines has entered into bilateral MoUs for developing cooperation in the mineral sector.
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL): A joint venture company established by the Ministry of Mines for the acquisition of overseas mineral assets.
Catamarca province of Argentina: A province in Argentina where KABIL has signed an Exploration and Development Agreement with CAMYEN for exploration and mining of Lithium Brine Blocks.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †2907
ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
OBJECTIVES OF NCMM
†2907: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:
SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:
SHRI BHARAT SINGH KUSHWAH:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) the key objectives and targeted goals of the National Critical Mineral Mission
(NCMM);
(b) the various essential components of NCMM; and
(c) the steps taken under NCMM to promote international cooperation and private
sector participation for exploration programmes?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): The objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) are:
i) To secure India’s critical mineral supply chain by ensuring mineral availability from
domestic and foreign sources.
ii) Strengthening the value chains by enhancing technological, regulatory, and
financial ecosystems to foster innovation, skill development, and global
competitiveness in mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and
recycling.
Expected Targets of NCMM are as follows:
Key heads Total
(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 1000Skill development 10000
Mineral Processing Parks 4
Centre of Excellence 3
Mineral Stockpile (cumulative) 5
(b): Following are the components of the NCMM:
i. Increasing Domestic Critical Minerals Production
ii. Acquisition of Critical Mineral Assets Abroad
iii. Recycling of Critical Minerals
iv. Trade and Markets
v. Scientific Research & Technological Advancement for Critical Minerals
vi. Human Resource Development
vii. Developing Effective Funding, Financing and Fiscal Incentives
(c): Ministry of Mines is actively facilitating international and private sector
collaboration through seminars, meetings, roadshows etc. The Ministry maintains
regular coordination with Indian embassies to identify potential opportunities in the
critical minerals sector in respective countries. In the interest of developing bilateral
cooperation with mineral resource rich countries, the Ministry has entered into bilateral
MoUs with the Governments of a number of countries such as Australia, Argentina,
Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi etc and also with international
organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA).
For the acquisition of overseas mineral assets, the Ministry of Mines has established
a joint venture company, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL). KABIL has signed an
Exploration and Development Agreement with CAMYEN, a state-owned enterprise of
Catamarca province of Argentina, for exploration and mining of five Lithium Brine
Blocks in Argentina in an area of 15703 Hectares.
Ministry of Mines is also engaged in various multilateral and bilateral platforms such
as Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), India-US Strategic Mineral Recovery
Initiative, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and UK-India Technology
Security Initiative (TSI), etc. for strengthening the critical minerals value chain.
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