Critical and strategic minerals underpin modern technology, defence systems, and clean energy transitions. India's 2023 identification of such minerals marks a decisive shift from reactive import dependence to proactive resource security planning.
India's Ministry of Mines identified a list of critical minerals — including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earth elements, and titanium — based on economic importance and supply chain vulnerability. These minerals are essential for electric vehicle batteries, semiconductors, solar panels, and defence electronics. Their 'strategic' tag reflects both technological indispensability and geopolitical concentration of supply.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 introduced provisions for auctioning critical mineral blocks and empowered the central government to retain control over their allocation. Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) was established to secure overseas mineral assets, particularly in lithium-rich nations such as Argentina and Australia. These moves signal a whole-of-government approach to mineral diplomacy.
India currently imports a significant share of its critical mineral requirements, with heavy dependence on China for processed rare earths and cobalt. This concentration creates strategic exposure, particularly for the defence and electronics manufacturing sectors. Diversifying sourcing through bilateral agreements and domestic exploration is a stated policy priority.
Despite geological surveys indicating deposits of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir and rare earths in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, extraction infrastructure, processing capacity, and environmental clearance frameworks remain underdeveloped. Bridging this gap requires coordinated investment in geoscientific mapping, beneficiation technology, and streamlined regulatory pathways.
Securing critical minerals is as much a governance challenge as a geological one. Sustained investment in domestic exploration, processing capacity, and strategic stockpiling — alongside calibrated mineral diplomacy — will determine India's self-reliance in the technology-intensive decades ahead.
GS Answer Coach grades your Mains answer on structure, substance, and conclusion — in under a minute.
Essay Coach · GS Answer Coach · Cutoff Planner · 500+ Mains PYQs — free to sign up.