India's Strategic Mineral Mission: A Push for Independence

President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the government's efforts on the National Critical Mineral Mission to alleviate dependency on foreign countries for essential minerals. With a budget of Rs 16,300 crore, this mission focuses on exploration within India and overseas to secure critical minerals vital for various high-tech industries.

Addressing Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu stated that the government is advancing in "mission mode" on critical mineral exploration, aiming to reduce foreign dependency. The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), approved with a Rs 16,300-crore budget, seeks to promote mineral exploration domestically and internationally.

The mission underscores India's strategic emphasis on securing minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are crucial for sectors such as electric vehicles, green energy, defence, and high-tech manufacturing. By doing so, India aims to alleviate potential supply chain risks linked to concentrated mineral sources.

NCMM encourages Indian enterprises to acquire mineral assets abroad and aims to develop a strategic mineral stockpile domestically. Such initiatives are critical to ensuring national economic development and security, while strengthening trade relations with resource-rich nations.

(With inputs from agencies.)