Parliament Question: Rare earth minerals

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-9 ANSWERED ON 29/01/2026 RARE EARTH MINERALS 9. SHRI MEDA RAGHUNADHA REDDY Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:- (a) whether India is presently reliant on China when it comes to accessing rare earth minerals; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government has taken steps to develop its own rare earth mineral value chain; (d) if so, the details thereof; and (e) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) & (b) No. India is not reliant on China for accessing rare earth minerals present in Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) which is the principal ore of Rare Earths (RE) in India. In BSM ore, the prescribed substance monazite occurs, which is a phosphate mineral of Rare Earth Element containing Uranium and Thorium. (c) to (e) Yes. IREL (India) Limited (IREL), a PSU under Department of Atomic Energy produces Rare Earth Elements in the form of high pure rare earth oxides from RE bearing mineral Monazite in India. IREL has been operating in three locations having the facility for integrated mining and processing of mineral sands and a facility each for extraction and refining of rare earths. To develop RE value chain in the country, following actions have been initiated : For strategic sector, a Rare Earth Permanent Magnet plant has been operationalized at Vizag for production of Samarium Cobalt magnets. IREL has established mini plants for production of Lanthanum, Cerium and Neodymium metals at Rare Earth & Titanium Theme Park, Bhopal as part of the development of RE value chain in the country.IREL has set up a Rare Earth Element recycling plant at Rare Earth Titanium Theme Park, Bhopal to recover the magnetic Rare Earths from end-of life magnets. The Union Cabinet has approved the scheme to promote manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) with financial outlay of Rs. 7,280 Crore on 26th November, 2025, to establish 6,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity in the country. Five beneficiaries are envisaged under the scheme through global competitive bidding. A transparent Least Cost System (LCS), comprising a two-envelope process i.e. technical bid and financial bid is envisaged. The Sales-Linked Incentive of Rs. 6,450 crore & Capital Subsidy of Rs. 750 crore is allocated for the scheme period. The scheme is aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing of REPM in the country, thereby contributing to reduce dependence on imports for critical sectors such as electric mobility, renewable energy, electronics and defence apart from facilitating employment generation and strengthening of domestic value chains. *****