India is considering establishing a strategic reserve of critical minerals and rare earths to be utilised in emergency scenarios by its defence manufacturing sector, a senior Ministry of Defence official stated. According to a Bloomberg report, Rajesh Kumar Singh, a top defence official, mentioned at a media event in New Delhi that such a reserve would help “tide over immediate requirement’’ when defence production demands surge.
Beijing has imposed strict restrictions on exports of processed rare earths this year, which has prompted many countries, including India, to seek options to reduce dependence on China. India has already started diversifying its supply chain, including tapping into rare earth mines in Myanmar in partnership with the Kachin Independence Army, as per a Reuters report.
Mines gets strategic status from the government
In addition to creating a reserve, the Indian government has moved to consider rare-project mines as strategic projects. Under this, regulatory processes will be streamlined and fast-track environmental clearances for mining and processing. Singh highlighted that this change aims to simplify bureaucracy and enhance the supply of rare earths.
Another part of the plan is to promote recycling. India has approved a Rs 15,000 crore incentive programme focusing on the recycling of critical minerals from batteries and e-waste. This way, it will step up efforts to secure rare earth elements. Singh further added that while India has reasonable stocks of some critical minerals, better utilisation and domestic recycling are needed for the long term, as per a report by Bloomberg.
This initiative is crucial for national security as critical hardware like missiles, warships, radars and aircraft all depend on rare earths and related materials.
Details all India’s rare earth reserves
According to PIB, the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) of India has significant reserves of rare earth material (REE). As per current estimates, about 7.23 million tonnes of Rare Earth Oxides (REO) are contained in 13.15 million tonnes of monazite. This mineral is rich in thorium and raw earths, found along the coastal beach sands, red sands and riverbeds in states like Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. In addition, around 1.29 million tonnes of REO resources are found in rock deposits in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has also added around 486.6 million tonnes of REE ore resources by conducting exploration projects across the country, strengthening India’s long-term potential in this strategic sector.