India today stands at a defining juncture in its pursuit of technological and economic sovereignty. With vast reserves of rare earth elements (REEs), thorium, niobium, and other critical minerals, the nation is uniquely positioned to transform its mineral wealth into the backbone of defence, clean energy, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.

These strategic resources, often described as the “vitamins of modern industry", power the technologies shaping the future: semiconductors, electric vehicles, wind turbines, precision instruments, and aerospace systems. Harnessing them effectively could propel India into the league of nations that dominate the 21st-century industrial economy.

Abundant Reserves, Limited Extraction

• India has about 8.52 million tonnes of Rare Earth Elements Oxide (REO) in situ, according to government data.

• Of this: 7.23 Mt REO is in monazite sands (on coasts and riverine deposits) in states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra.

• An additional 1.29 Mt REO is found in hard rock deposits in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

According to some sources (USGS cited in media), India has -6.9 million tonnes of rare-earths reserves.

• India has 44.9 million tonnes of cobalt ore resources (i.e., not pure cobalt, but ore containing cobalt).

• These are mostly in Odisha (in nickel laterite deposits), Jharkhand, and Nagaland. However, India does not have active cobalt production from these primary resources.

• Copper is also listed as a critical mineral. India has 163.9 million tonnes of copper reserves.

Graphite is another critical mineral for India’s clean-energy push. According to IEEFA, India has 211.6 million tonnes of graphite resources.

• There are already graphite mining leases, though the domestic supply is still insufficient: India imports a........

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