The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a strategic government scheme launched by the Union Cabinet on January 29, 2025, with a seven-year duration from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31 and a total outlay of ₹34,300 crore. The mission was announced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget for 2024-25 on July 23, 2024, to address India's high import dependency and supply chain vulnerabilities for minerals essential for high-tech industries, clean energy, and defense. Critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, are vital for technologies like electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and defense equipment, and their supply is often concentrated in a few geographical locations.
The NCMM works by encompassing the entire value chain, from exploration and mining to processing and recovery from end-of-life products. Key mechanisms include intensifying domestic exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), which is tasked with 1,200 exploration projects by 2030-31. It encourages Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and private companies to acquire critical mineral assets abroad, with a target of 50 global mining assets. The mission also includes a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme to boost recycling capacity for critical minerals from sources like e-waste and lithium-ion battery scrap.
The mission is closely connected to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), which was amended in 2023 to increase exploration and mining of critical minerals. This amendment included 24 critical minerals in Part D of the First Schedule, granting the Central Government exclusive authority to auction their mining leases. Furthermore, the government has exempted critical mineral mining projects from mandatory public hearings, classifying them as projects of security and strategic importance to fast-track regulatory approvals. The NCMM also proposes setting up Centres of Excellence and mineral processing parks to strengthen domestic capacity.