As India accelerates its transition towards clean energy, digitalisation, defence modernisation, and advanced manufacturing, the demand for critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements, is growing rapidly.

These minerals are essential for the development of batteries, solar panels, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and defence systems. Recognising their strategic importance, this report offers a holistic analysis of the opportunities, challenges, and policy pathways necessary to secure India’s critical mineral future.

This research-driven report is designed for policymakers, regulators, and strategic planners across ministries and sectors. It presents a sector-wise breakdown of mineral demand, identifies key vulnerabilities in current supply chains, and maps India’s dependencies in light of global geopolitical and market dynamics. Special focus is given to emerging needs in the clean energy sector, electronics and semiconductors, aerospace and defence, and other industrial applications.

The report examines India’s evolving policy architecture through the lens of:

• The National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM)
• Recent reforms to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Amendment)
• Government-led initiatives on exploration, auction design, processing infrastructure, and regulatory incentives
• The potential of urban mining and circular economy approaches

In parallel, the study delves into India’s international mineral diplomacy, analysing:

• Strategic technology partnerships with the United States under iCET
• Resource security alliances with Australia on lithium and rare earths
• Engagements with Latin America’s Lithium Triangle (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia)
• New and emerging collaborations across Africa, with a focus on cobalt and critical raw materials

India’s strategic response to China’s dominance in global mineral value chains is critically assessed, with recommendations for diversifying supply sources and strengthening domestic capacities.

The report also explores the investment landscape, covering:

• Trends in domestic corporate participation and public-private partnerships
• Growing foreign investor interest and international financing mechanisms
• The role of ESG frameworks and traceability standards in ensuring sustainable and responsible sourcing

The final section offers a set of evidence-based policy recommendations to address identified strategic gaps—including limited processing capacity, technology access, coordination challenges, and workforce needs. Recommendations emphasize:

• Creating institutional mechanisms for inter-ministerial coordination
• Promoting R&D and innovation for indigenous technologies
• Enhancing global partnerships for knowledge sharing and joint ventures
• Strategic stockpiling and resource mapping
• Mainstreaming sustainability and traceability across the value chain

This report serves as a valuable resource for government departments, think tanks, industry associations, and multilateral partners looking to support India’s strategic autonomy in critical minerals. It aims to inform both immediate policy decisions and long-term strategic planning at the national level.

Download the full report to explore how India can secure its critical mineral future—sustainably, strategically, and sovereignly.