Centre Approves Rs 16,300-Crore National Critical Minerals Mission

The Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) on Wednesday with an expenditure of Rs 16,300 crore, coupled with an expected investment of Rs 18,000 crore from public sector enterprises over seven years.

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"This mission aims to reduce the dependence on the import of critical minerals and ensure self-reliance," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said after the Cabinet meeting, noting that 24 critical minerals have been identified under the initiative.

The mission targets minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are crucial for clean energy technologies ranging from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles and battery manufacturing.