- Why in news
- The two-day Rashtriya Khanij Chintan Shivir 2026 ended at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, on 10 January 2026. Day 2 discussed the National Critical Mineral Mission, sustainable mining and mineral security.
- What it is
- The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a Union government mission to secure India's supply of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earths. It covers exploration, auctioning of blocks, domestic mining and processing, recycling and building supply chains. It was approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025.
- Mission scope
- The mission framework covers identifying critical minerals, exploration and auctioning, domestic mining and processing, value addition and resilient supply chains.
- Recovery from waste
- The Indian Bureau of Mines presented on recovering critical minerals from waste dumps and tailings, a circular mining approach.
- DMF use
- The Union Minister stressed using District Mineral Foundation funds for welfare of mining-affected areas, along with mine closure planning and timely auctions.
- Ministry
- The mission is run by the Ministry of Mines.
- Federal angle
- Mining Ministers and officials from more than eight States took part, shown as cooperative federalism.
Don’t confuse with Critical vs strategic minerals: Critical minerals are those whose supply risk and economic importance are high for a country's industry and clean energy. Strategic minerals are tied to defence and security needs. The lists overlap but are not the same.
Don’t confuse with DMF vs NMET: District Mineral Foundations are trusts in mining districts for affected communities. The National Mineral Exploration Trust funds exploration.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Secures supply of minerals needed for clean energy, electronics and defence, reducing import dependence.
- Joint Centre-State work helps because minerals sit in the State list but are regulated under a central law.
Problems
- Delays in auctioning and operationalising mines, along with environmental and forest clearances.
- Local displacement and ecological damage; weak mine closure planning and DMF use.
Way forward
- Speed up block auctions and mine start-up with accountable timelines, in coordination with States.
- Expand recycling and recovery from tailings, and spend DMF funds effectively for affected communities.
Put in your answer
Cooperative federalism: Centre and States jointly discussing mining reforms at a Chintan Shivir shows a collaborative approach to mineral policy.
Circular mining: Recovering critical minerals from tailings and waste dumps adds to supply while lowering the environmental footprint.
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- 2021Mains GS1 · Q5Why India's mining sector contributes little to GDP despite Gondwanaland geology
- 2013Mains GS1 · Q24Availability of raw materials for atomic energy in India and the world
- 2021Prelims Q56Statements on seabed mineral licences and rare earth minerals in international waters
- 2025Prelims Q6Statements on India joining Minerals Security Partnership and critical mineral auction powers
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting scheme on the syllabus, but this release is a conclave summary with few testable facts; question unlikely.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.