Powering India: A New Era for Rare Earths and Strategic Minerals

Amid rising global concerns over access to strategic minerals, the Government of India has intensified efforts to secure the domestic supply chain for rare-earth elements (REEs)—critical for the production of electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, defence systems, and renewable energy infrastructure.

In response to China’s recent export restrictions on permanent magnets—key components in EV propulsion, audio systems, power windows, and wind turbines—the Centre convened a series of high-level inter-ministerial meetings on 17 June 2025 to assess vulnerabilities and accelerate domestic sourcing capabilities.

“This inter-ministerial effort will pave the way for India’s self-reliance in strategic materials crucial for electric vehicles, electronics, defence, and other sectors,” said Steel and Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy. The meetings were jointly chaired by Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Kumaraswamy, with participation from the Ministries of Atomic Energy and Commerce.

To enable faster domestic production, the government is considering amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, aimed at supporting the Critical Mineral Mission and enhancing output capacity. Officials also indicated that small-scale, commercially viable domestic production of rare-earth permanent magnets is expected to commence by the end of the year—an important step toward reducing dependence on imports.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.