NITI Aayog panel on critical minerals wants joint efforts, policy support for self-reliance

HYDERABAD

The second meeting of the National Critical and Strategic Minerals Committee constituted by NITI Aayog held at Singareni Bhavan on Thursday (February 26, 2026) has stated that collaborative action, policy support and accelerated exploration are essential to transform India into a self-reliant nation in the critical minerals sector.

Speaking at the meeting chaired by Dr. D.K. Singh, a former scientist of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Chairman and Managing Director of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) Dr. Buddhaprakash Jyoti, a member of the NITI Aayog Committee, said the Committee formed to identify and develop critical mineral resources within the country would play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s resource security.

He informed that the company was exploring the extraction of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from the overburden and clays present in coal seams of its opencast mines. Additionally, efforts were being made to recover valuable minerals from fly ash and bottom ash generated at the Singareni Thermal Power Plant.

Other members of the committee stated that critical minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt and nickel were indispensable for sectors including renewable energy, electric vehicles, electronics, defence and advanced manufacturing. While India possessed notable reserves of certain critical minerals, limited exploration and mining activities had resulted in continued dependence on imports.

With the demand expected to increase substantially in the coming years, the Committee called for a coordinated national effort involving both public and private sector mining companies. The meeting featured detailed discussions on the current demand-supply scenario, exploration opportunities across various States, policy support mechanisms and the role of government agencies and mining organisations.

Deputy Advisor (Minerals) of NITI Aayog R. Saravanabhavan, informed that time-bound action would be initiated to finalise and submit the Committee’s report. CMD of NLC India Ltd M. Prasanna Kumar participated virtually.