India to Launch Critical Minerals Stockpile Policy for Lithium, Rare Earths
What Happened
Mines Secretary Keshav Chandra confirmed that India will finalise a critical minerals stockpiling policy within a month. The plan, part of the National Critical Minerals Mission, aims to build a strategic reserve covering up to six months of demand, compared with an earlier two‑month proposal. The stockpile will include lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, titanium, zirconium, and rare earth elements, all vital for electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy, defence, aerospace, and advanced electronics. The government has earmarked ₹500 crore for the mission and is also developing four mineral processing parks in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to strengthen domestic value addition. India remains 100% import‑dependent for most critical minerals, with China controlling about 90% of global processing capacity. Officials stressed that the stockpile is intended to provide a buffer against supply shocks, while long‑term resilience will require building domestic processing and recycling capacity.
Key Takeaways
India’s critical minerals policy is a strategic step to reduce vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions. By creating reserves and processing hubs, the country aims to secure raw materials essential for its EV, clean energy, and defence ambitions, though execution will depend on technology development and financing.