New Delhi: G Kishan Reddy, the Minister for Mines, held an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday to discuss a wide range of aspects pertaining to the supply chains and value chains of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and critical minerals. The ministries that participated in the meeting included the Ministries of Atomic Energy, Steel, Heavy Industries and Commerce. “Held an inter-ministerial meeting with Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @hd_kumaraswamy ji and officials from the Ministries of Atomic Energy, Steel, Heavy Industries & Commerce,” Reddy said in a post on X.
“Deliberated on the wide range of aspects of securing the supply chains of Rare Earth & Critical Minerals vital for the electronics industry, energy, and national security. Discussions focused on strengthening the value chain, from mining to refining to end-use. @narendramodi govt has implemented the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and is adopting a whole-of-government approach to make India #Atmanirbhar in minerals,” Reddy said on X.
India is actively working to secure its supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) due to their importance in clean energy technologies and other strategic industries. Critical minerals such as silicon, tellurium, indium, and gallium are vital for the production of photovoltaic (PV) cells used in solar panels. On the other hand, Rare Earth Elements, like dysprosium and neodymium, are used in permanent magnets for wind turbines. Lithium, nickel, and cobalt are key materials used in lithium-ion batteries. A National Critical Mineral Mission was launched in January 2025 to achieve self-reliance in this area, with a focus on exploration and resource evaluation. India faces import dependence for several critical minerals, highlighting the need for domestic resource development and strategic partnerships.