NITI Aayog, TEXMiN Join Forces to Boost India's Critical Minerals Ecosystem
NITI Aayog and TEXMiN sign a pact to boost India's critical mineral ecosystem, focusing on indigenous tech and sustainable value chains.
In a strategic move to secure the future of high-tech industries and national security, NITI Aayog has partnered with TEXMiN, a technology translation research park, to strengthen the India critical minerals ecosystem. The two entities have signed a joint Statement of Intent (SoI) aimed at reducing import dependencies and fostering a self-reliant framework for the extraction and processing of essential minerals.
A Vision for Aatmanirbhar Bharat
This collaboration is designed to align with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). By focusing on indigenous technological capabilities, the partnership seeks to create resilient and sustainable value chains that ensure India is not overly reliant on foreign sources for minerals vital to modern technology.
The partnership was formalized during a visit by NITI Aayog Member Gobardhan Das to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, where he inaugurated the National Symposium on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (CMRE 2026). This symposium was organized as part of the 45th Annual National Conference of the Indian Council of Chemists.
Four Pillars of Cooperation
The Statement of Intent outlines a comprehensive roadmap for collaboration across four primary domains:
- Research and Technology Development: Accelerating the creation of new technologies and their practical application in the field.
- Technical and Strategic Studies: Conducting deep-dive analyses to guide the nation's mineral strategy.
- Policy and Institutional Support: Creating the regulatory and institutional frameworks necessary for growth.
- Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange: Enhancing the skill sets of professionals and sharing expertise across sectors.
Beyond Mining: An Integrated Value Chain
Addressing the symposium, Gobardhan Das emphasized that India must evolve its approach to minerals. He argued that the country needs to move beyond a purely mining-centric model and instead adopt an integrated value chain approach. This comprehensive strategy covers several critical stages:
- Exploration and extraction
- Processing and refining
- Development of advanced materials
- Recycling and recovery
Tapping into Secondary Resources
A key highlight of the strategy is the focus on "urban mining" and the recovery of minerals from secondary sources. Das pointed out that India has immense opportunities to extract critical minerals from waste products, including:
- Coal fly ash
- Red mud
- Mine tailings
- Electronic waste (e-waste)
Bridging the Gap Between Lab and Market
The partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial viability. By fostering cooperation between the government, academia, research institutions, and industry players, NITI Aayog and TEXMiN intend to convert theoretical research into commercially successful technologies.
The symposium served as a melting pot for policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives, all working toward the common goal of building a secure, sustainable, and technologically independent supply chain for critical minerals and rare earths, essential for India's 2047 vision.