In a significant step toward strengthening India’s long-term resource security, NITI Aayog convened a high-level stakeholder consultation on the requirement of critical minerals for strategic sectors, bringing together policymakers, scientists, industry representatives, researchers, and academic experts. The consultation aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of India’s present and future demand for critical minerals while exploring strategies to build resilient and sustainable supply chains that can support the country’s industrial transformation and national security objectives.

The meeting was chaired by Maj. Gen. K. Narayanan, Programme Director of the Security and Strategic Affairs Division at NITI Aayog. Participants engaged in extensive discussions on the growing importance of critical minerals in enabling advanced technologies, clean energy systems, defence manufacturing, space research, electronics, telecommunications, transportation, and other emerging industries that are expected to drive India’s next phase of economic development.

Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earth elements, copper, and other strategic resources have become indispensable components of modern technologies. They are essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, semiconductor devices, aerospace equipment, defence platforms, high-performance electronics, advanced communication systems, and next-generation industrial applications. As global demand for these minerals continues to accelerate, ensuring a reliable and secure supply has become an important strategic priority for many nations, including India.

A key focus of the consultation was assessing India’s current mineral requirements while forecasting future demand across strategic sectors. Experts examined consumption trends, industrial expansion plans, technological developments, and the expected growth of emerging industries to estimate the country’s long-term resource needs. Such projections are expected to help policymakers design strategies that ensure uninterrupted access to essential raw materials over the coming decades.

Participants also discussed vulnerabilities within global supply chains for critical minerals. With mining and processing capacities heavily concentrated in a limited number of countries, geopolitical developments, trade disruptions, export restrictions, and market fluctuations can significantly affect the availability and pricing of these essential resources. The consultation explored approaches to diversify supply sources, strengthen international partnerships, and reduce dependence on external markets.

Developing domestic capabilities formed another major pillar of the discussions. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of accelerating geological exploration to identify new mineral deposits within India while promoting responsible and environmentally sustainable mining practices. Expanding domestic processing and refining infrastructure was identified as equally important, enabling India to capture greater value from its mineral resources instead of relying primarily on imported processed materials.

Recycling and circular economy solutions received considerable attention during the consultation. Recovering valuable minerals from end-of-life batteries, electronic waste, industrial equipment, and other recyclable materials can reduce import dependence while supporting environmental sustainability. Experts highlighted the need to invest in advanced recycling technologies capable of efficiently recovering critical minerals for reuse in manufacturing.

Innovation, scientific research, and technological advancement were recognised as essential drivers of India’s critical mineral strategy. The participants stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration between research institutions, universities, government agencies, startups, and private industry to develop new extraction techniques, improve mineral processing efficiency, discover alternative materials, and enhance resource utilisation across multiple sectors.

The consultation also highlighted the importance of creating an integrated national framework that aligns industrial policy, scientific research, environmental sustainability, investment promotion, and international cooperation. Such coordination can help build resilient mineral value chains capable of supporting India’s ambitions in electric mobility, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, defence production, digital technologies, and infrastructure development.

Beyond industrial competitiveness, the availability of critical minerals has become closely linked to national security. Modern defence systems, aerospace technologies, secure communication networks, and strategic infrastructure increasingly depend on uninterrupted access to specialised mineral resources. Building secure domestic capabilities therefore contributes not only to economic resilience but also to India’s long-term strategic preparedness.

The stakeholder consultation reflects NITI Aayog’s continuing commitment to evidence-based policymaking by engaging experts from diverse disciplines in shaping future national strategies. By combining scientific expertise, industry insights, and policy planning, the institution aims to develop practical recommendations that strengthen India’s position in global critical mineral value chains.

As India accelerates its transition toward a technology-driven, low-carbon, and innovation-led economy, ensuring reliable access to critical minerals will remain fundamental to sustaining economic growth, promoting industrial self-reliance, advancing scientific progress, and safeguarding national interests. The consultation marks another important step in building a comprehensive strategy that prepares the country to meet future resource challenges while strengthening its competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global economy.