Overview
- Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said permanent magnet production will begin by end‑2026 under a ₹7,280 crore scheme targeting 6,000 MTPA integrated capacity.
- Work under the ₹32,000 crore National Critical Minerals Mission has started, with more than 4,000 exploration activities and nine Centres of Excellence announced.
- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat have been selected for critical‑mineral processing units, with Gujarat underway and Andhra Pradesh prepared to proceed.
- The ministry cited roughly 95% import dependence and detailed support measures including customs duty exemptions and National Mineral Exploration Trust funding for private explorers and overseas projects.
- India is engaging the United States, France and Canada on alternative supply chains as reporting cites China’s roughly 87–90% hold over rare‑earth processing.