Rapid Fire
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
- 28 Oct 2025
- 3 min read
The Ministry of Mines has recognized two additional Centres of Excellence(CoEs)- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Hyderabad under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
- Earlier, seven institutes had already been recognized under this initiative.
- CoE will function on a Hub & Spoke model, pooling expertise of academic, R&D, and industry partners.
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
- About: The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was announced in the Union Budget 2024–25 to ensure India’s long-term mineral security.
- The mission seeks to strengthen India’s critical mineral supply chain by ensuring steady availability from both domestic and international sources.
- Coverage & Objectives:
- The NCMM covers all stages of the mineral value chain - exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recycling from end-of-life products.
- It aims to secure access to minerals essential for clean energy, electronics, and strategic sectors.
- Key Features:
- Focus will also be on offshore mining of polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt and rare earth elements (REEs).
- Governance:
- The Empowered Committee on Critical Minerals will oversee the mission, with the Ministry of Mines as the nodal authority.
Critical Minerals
- Critical minerals are vital for a country’s economic growth and national security. Their limited global availability poses supply chain risks.
- Key Applications:
- Solar Energy: Minerals like silicon, tellurium, indium, and gallium are crucial for photovoltaic (PV) cells. India’s 64 GW solar capacity depends heavily on them.
- Wind Energy: Rare earth elements such as neodymium and dysprosium are vital for wind turbine magnets.
- Electric Vehicles: Lithium, nickel, and cobalt power lithium-ion batteries under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP).
- Energy Storage: Advanced batteries for energy storage rely on lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
| Read More: India’s Critical Minerals Roadmap |
