National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM)

The government recently approved a Rs 16,300-crore National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) to promote the exploration of critical minerals within the country and at offshore locations.

• About the mission: NCMM will address all stages: mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.
• Objectives: Reduce import dependence and ensure self-reliance in mineral supply.

o Support clean energy transition and growing demand for critical minerals.

• About: Critical minerals are elements, substances, or materials that are essential for the manufacturing of modern technologies.

o The Centre has identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, tin, copper, and more.

• Significance of Critical Minerals:

o Essential for clean energy technologies like wind turbines, electricity networks, EVs, and battery manufacturing.

o Includes copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements, etc.

• Legislative & Policy Support: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 was amended in 2023.
• Customs duties on critical minerals eliminated in FY25 budget to boost availability and processing facilities.

---