Cabinet nod to royalty cut for critical minerals

THE CABINET ON Wednesday approved downward revision of theroyaltyrates fora host of critical minerals namely caesium, graphite, rubidium and zirconium.

- ARUNIMA BHARADWAJ

All these are widely used in the green energy sector.

The new rates broadly range from 2-4%, as against 12% at present, for all these minerals, except graphite, where the duties are tonnage-based right now.

The move will promote auction of mineral blocks, thereby not only unlocking these minerals but also associated critical minerals found with them,such as lithium, tungsten, rare earth elements,niobium etc,the government said.