National Critical Mineral Mission
In one line: The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 January 2025, aims to build a secure value chain for critical minerals with ₹34,300 crore over seven years.
What it covers
Exploration in India and offshore areas, a fast-track approval process for mining projects, support for acquiring mineral assets abroad, a domestic critical mineral stockpile, mineral processing parks, recycling, and research including a proposed Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals.
The money
Government spending of ₹16,300 crore, plus ₹18,000 crore expected from public sector undertakings and others.
Why it is in the news
The stockpiling policy announced as imminent on 9 October 2026 will set up the stockpile component of this mission.
Where to go next
- Strategic stockpiling
- KABIL
National Critical Mineral Mission in the news
- Critical minerals stockpiling policy likely within a month, says Mines Secretary 10 October 2026
The umbrella programme under which the stockpile sits.
- The missing measure in India's rare-earth magnet mission 21 September 2026
India's minerals strategy
Previous-year questions on this
- 2024 · GS2 · 10 marks 'The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China's supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China's political and economic dominance.' Explain this statement with…
- 2021 · GS1 · 10 marks Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss.
- 2025 · Prelims Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified…
- 2022 · Prelims With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in…