Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has launched a robust strategy to secure rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals, recognising their indispensable role in achieving the nation’s economic, technological, and strategic ambitions. These minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and neodymium, are vital for clean energy, electric vehicles (EVs), defence systems, and advanced electronics. As global demand surges and geopolitical tensions expose supply chain vulnerabilities—particularly China’s dominance in rare earth processing—India’s multifaceted approach, blending domestic extraction with international collaborations, is both timely and essential.

Rare earth elements are the backbone of India’s aspirations under initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070. These minerals power EV batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, semiconductors, and defence equipment like radar and precision-guided missiles. With India targeting 30 per cent EV penetration by 2030 and aiming to become a global hub for manufacturing and innovation, securing a stable supply of critical minerals is crucial to reduce import dependence, enhance industrial competitiveness, and ensure strategic autonomy.

Currently, India imports over 90 per cent of its rare earth requirements, with China controlling 85-95 per cent of global rare earth refining and magnet production. This dependency poses significant risks, as seen in China’s 2010 export restrictions to Japan and its 2025 curbs on six heavy rare earth elements, which disrupted global supply chains and forced Indian automakers to cut production targets. By prioritising self-reliance in critical minerals, the Modi government seeks to mitigate these risks, redirect economic resources toward domestic development, and position India as a global player in the critical minerals market.

India holds the world’s third-largest REE reserves, estimated at 6.9 million metric tons, primarily in monazite sands found in coastal and inland deposits across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Despite this, the country contributes only 0.7 per cent to global REE........

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