India Accelerates Critical Mineral Mission with New CoEs, Auctions, Reforms

Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy chaired a landmark Seminar on Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) in Hyderabad, setting the stage for India’s push towards self-reliance in critical minerals. The event brought together leading academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and government agencies to define a comprehensive roadmap for advancing India’s role in the global mineral economy.

Driving Self-Reliance in Strategic Minerals

Addressing the gathering, Shri Reddy outlined the government’s vision to reduce import dependence and create a robust domestic ecosystem for critical minerals essential to defense, renewable energy, semiconductors, and electronics. He highlighted India’s potential to become a hub for critical mineral processing, backed by public-private partnerships, research-driven innovation, and transparent policy frameworks.

“Critical minerals are the backbone of our modern economy — from clean energy to national security. India’s future as a global leader depends on building self-reliance and advanced processing capabilities in this sector,” he said.

Centres of Excellence: Anchors of Innovation

Heads of seven CoEs — IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur, and NFTDC Hyderabad — presented their ongoing research, innovations, and translational projects.

Key deliberations focused on:

• Scaling R&D to support processing and refining of critical raw materials.

• Institutionalising CoEs with hub-and-spoke governance models.

• Building TRL 7/8 pilot plants for pre-commercial demonstrations.

• Aligning R&D agendas with India’s defense, electronics, and clean energy needs.

Industry representatives highlighted priority areas, funding support mechanisms, and opportunities for joint academia-industry projects.

The seminar concluded that the whole-of-government approach, close collaboration between CoEs and industry, and robust governance structures will be critical for accelerating innovation and reducing dependency on imports.

Reports, Awards, and Welfare Initiatives

During the seminar, Shri Reddy released the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) report “Making India a Hub for Critical Minerals Processing” and a roadmap booklet on domestic processing.

Awards were conferred upon CoEs for contributions to research and capacity building. Shri Reddy also announced the rollout of a uniform welfare framework across all Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) under the Ministry. Beginning September 17, 2025, all regular mining employees will be covered under a ₹1 crore insurance scheme, ensuring safety, dignity, and social security for the workforce.

Sixth Tranche of Mineral Block Auctions

The Minister launched the 6th tranche of mineral block auctions, offering 23 blocks (19 Composite Licence and 4 Mining Lease) across 13 states. These blocks host key minerals vital for clean energy, high-tech manufacturing, and defense, including Lithium, Tungsten, Cobalt, Graphite, Niobium, Tantalum, Vanadium, Gallium, Zirconium, Potash, and Rare Earth Elements.

• Tender sales: September 23 – November 24, 2025.

• Bid submission deadline: December 1, 2025 (5:00 PM IST).

• Details available: MSTC e-auction portal.

The Ministry has so far completed five tranches covering 55 blocks, of which 34 have been successfully auctioned, generating substantial revenues for state governments.

First-Ever Exploration Licence (EL) Auctions

In a historic milestone, Shri Reddy announced the Preferred Bidders for India’s first tranche of Exploration Licence (EL) blocks — marking a new era in private sector participation for deep-seated mineral exploration.

• Of 13 blocks auctioned, 7 advanced to the second round, spanning Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

• These blocks cover minerals like Lithium, Copper, Gold, and Rare Earths, critical for green technologies and the energy transition.

• Revenues from EL auctions will be shared with states, strengthening federal collaboration.

Towards a Transparent and Competitive Mineral Ecosystem

The Ministry reiterated its focus on:

• Creating an investor-friendly environment.

• Promoting research-driven innovation.

• Establishing transparent auction mechanisms.

• Building domestic capacity aligned with India’s strategic and industrial priorities.

“The outcomes of today’s seminar will serve as a roadmap for positioning India as a global leader in critical minerals research, processing, and technology innovation,” Shri Reddy said in conclusion.

The event ended with a call for sustained collaboration between government, academia, and industry, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a global hub for critical minerals and to support the nation’s transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing.