India has released a list of 30 critical minerals crucial for economic development and national security. Most of these minerals are essential for high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defense sectors.
────────────────────────────── 1. Antimony
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Flame retardants, lead‐acid batteries, lead alloys, plastics (catalysts and stabilisers), glass and ceramics
• Specific Products: Chemicals and chemical products; electrical equipment; fabricated metal products (except machinery and equipment)
• Indian Availability: No proved reserves; only inferred reserves in Lahul & Spiti districts (Himachal Pradesh)
• Remarks:
– Commonly obtained as a by‐product in lead–zinc–silver smelting (by Hindustan Zinc Limited).
– Secondary antimony is recovered at lead smelters (as antimonial lead) mainly for the battery industry.
– There is potential to recover antimony from lamp phosphor waste.
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────────────────────────────── 2. Beryllium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing inputs and materials
• Major Applications: Automotive components; transport and defence manufacturing of machinery; electronic and telecommunications equipment
• Specific Products: Used in the manufacture of computer, electronic, and optical products
• Indian Availability: Not available; current requirements are met via imports
────────────────────────────── 3. Bismuth
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and casting of iron
• Specific Products: Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
• Indian Availability: Not available; imported to meet demand
────────────────────────────── 4. Cadmium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Batteries, pigments, coatings
• Specific Products: Used in electrical equipment, chemicals and chemical products, solar cells, electroplating, and silver soldering
• Indian Availability: Recovered as a by‐product during zinc smelting; total installed capacity is about 913 tpy (with 833 tpy by HZL)
────────────────────────────── 5. Cobalt
• Value Chain: Clean technologies
• Major Applications: Electric vehicles, batteries, corrosion-resistant alloys, aerospace applications, pigments and dyes
• Specific Products: Battery electrodes, metal alloys, turbine engine components, automobile airbags, catalysts, drying agents for paints/varnishes/inks, magnets, and chemical compounds
• Indian Availability: Not available; met through imports
────────────────────────────── 6. Copper
• Value Chain: Clean technologies and advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Electrical and electronics products, wiring, solar panels, automotive industry
• Specific Products: Power transmission lines, building wiring, vehicle and telecommunication wiring, electronic components, fabricated metal products
• Indian Availability: Domestic production meets only about 4% of requirements; significant imports are necessary
• Remarks: Scaling up existing mines and developing new ones is essential to bridge the gap
────────────────────────────── 7. Gallium
• Value Chain: Information and communications
• Major Applications: Semiconductors, integrated circuits, LEDs
• Specific Products: Electronic circuit boards, LED devices, semiconductors, specialized thermometers, barometric sensors, solar panels, Blu-ray technology, pharmaceuticals
• Indian Availability: Recovered as a by‐product during alumina production; previously recovered by plants like Hindalco and NALCO (needs revisiting)
────────────────────────────── 8. Germanium
• Value Chain: Information and communications; clean technologies; advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Optical fibres, satellites, solar cells
• Specific Products: Fibre-optic networks, camera/microscope lenses, infrared night vision systems, polymerization catalysts
• Indian Availability: Not available; met through imports
────────────────────────────── 9. Graphite
• Value Chain: Clean technologies
• Major Applications: Batteries, lubricants, fuel cells (for EVs), electric vehicles
• Specific Products: Foundry lubricants, vehicle brake linings, casting wear, crucibles, rechargeable battery anodes, EV fuel cells, electrical motor components, frictionless materials, pencils
• Indian Availability: Approximately 9 million tonnes of reserves exist; production is reported from 12 mines
────────────────────────────── 10. Hafnium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Superalloys, catalyst precursors, semiconductors, optical oxides, nuclear reactors
• Specific Products: Basic metals, computer/electronic/optical products, neutron absorption in control rods, alloy production
• Indian Availability: Typically obtained as a minor constituent in zirconium compounds; produced by IREL & KMML
────────────────────────────── 11. Indium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Electronics (laptops, LED monitors/TVs, smartphones), semiconductors
• Specific Products: Used in electronics and electrical equipment
• Indian Availability: Not available; demand is met through imports
────────────────────────────── 12. Lithium
• Value Chain: Clean technologies and defence & security technologies
• Major Applications: Electric vehicles, batteries, glassware, ceramics, fuel manufacturing, lubricants
• Specific Products: Rechargeable batteries (phones, computers, cameras, EVs), hydrogen fuel storage systems, metal alloys (for military applications), specialized glass/ceramics, drying/air conditioning systems, steam boilers, pharmaceuticals, refined petroleum products
• Indian Availability: Not available; supplied through imports
────────────────────────────── 13. Molybdenum
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Steel alloys, pigments, dyes, catalysts, electrical and electronic products
• Specific Products: Engineering steels, foundries, nickel alloys, lubricants, medical field applications
• Indian Availability: Mineable reserves exist in Harur (Tamil Nadu)
• Remarks: Auctioning of mining blocks is suggested to reduce import dependence
────────────────────────────── 14. Niobium
• Value Chain: Clean technologies and advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Construction, transportation
• Specific Products: Metal alloys (steel), jet engines, rockets, construction beams, building girders, oil rigs, pipelines, superconducting magnets, MRI scanners, NMR equipment, eyeglasses, titanium-niobium oxide materials, nuclear power plant components, electronic components
• Indian Availability: Not available; fulfilled through imports
────────────────────────────── 15. Nickel
• Value Chain: Clean technologies; advanced manufacturing; defence & security technologies
• Major Applications: Stainless steel, solar panels, batteries, aerospace, defence, electric vehicles
• Specific Products: Metal alloys (steel, superalloys, non-ferrous alloys), engine components, rechargeable batteries, manufacturing machinery, construction beams, anticorrosive pipes, cookware, medical implants, power plant components
• Indian Availability: Vedanta operates NICOMET in Goa (with production of nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate – around 7500 TPA)
────────────────────────────── 16. Platinum Group Elements (PGE)
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Auto catalysts, jewellery, medicine, military electronic equipment
• Specific Products: Optical fibers, LCDs, turbine blades, spark plugs, silicon in aerospace, guided missile systems, catalytic converters, hybrid integrated circuits, pacemakers, chemotherapy drugs, jewellery
• Indian Availability: Approximately 14.2 tonnes of metal content are located in Odisha (Niligiri, Boula-Nuasahi, Sukinda) and about 1.5 tonnes in Karnataka (Hanumalpura)
────────────────────────────── 17. Phosphorous
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Mineral fertilizers, detergents, chemicals, food additives, animal feed, rust removers, corrosion preventers
• Specific Products: Mainly used as a nutrient provider in fertilizers
• Indian Availability: Huge reserves/resources exist in Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh (around 7 reporting mines)
────────────────────────────── 18. Potash
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Chemical fertilizers, water softeners
• Specific Products: Industrial chemicals, animal feed, soap making, food production, water softening, road de-icing, pH adjustment, explosives, pharmaceuticals, glassmaking
• Indian Availability: Major resources are found in Nagaur district (Rajasthan), Panna (Madhya Pradesh), and in Sonbhadra & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh)
────────────────────────────── 19. Rare Earth Elements (REE)
• Value Chain: Zero-emission vehicles; defence & security technologies
• Major Applications: Permanent magnets for electricity generators/motors, catalysts, polishing, batteries, electronics, defence technologies, wind energy, aviation, space
• Specific Products: Used in laptops, LED monitors/TVs, smartphones, EV drivetrains, wind turbines, aircraft components, speakers, steel manufacturing, battery anodes, chemical catalysts, glass manufacturing, specialized lenses, hybrid/tactical vehicles, armored vehicles, night vision goggles, communication and navigation systems
• Indian Availability: India’s beach sand monazite resource is estimated at 11.93 Mt (with 55–65% rare earth oxides); production is through domestic means (by IREL) and imports
────────────────────────────── 20. Rhenium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Superalloys, aerospace, machinery, catalysts in the petroleum industry
• Specific Products: Used in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products
• Indian Availability: Not available; met via imports
────────────────────────────── 21. Selenium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing inputs and materials
• Major Applications: Electrolytic, manganese, glass, pigments
• Specific Products: Used in ceramics, paints, plastics, photocells, solar cells, photocopiers, anti-dandruff shampoos, and as an additive for stainless steel
• Indian Availability: No domestic production
────────────────────────────── 22. Silicon
• Value Chain: Information and communications; advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Semiconductors, electronics, transport equipment, paints, aluminum alloys
• Specific Products: Electronics, computer processors, photovoltaics, steel manufacturing, glass, and glass products
• Indian Availability: India produces about 59,000 metric tonnes (ranking 12th globally as per 2022 data)
────────────────────────────── 23. Strontium
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Alloys of aluminium, pigments and fillers, glass, magnets, pyrotechnic applications
• Specific Products: Used in casting non-ferrous metals and in parts/accessories for three-wheelers and motorcycles
• Indian Availability: Not available; met through imports
────────────────────────────── 24. Tantalum
• Value Chain: Clean technologies and advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Capacitors, superalloys, carbides, medical technology
• Specific Products: Used in manufacturing machinery and equipment, nickel-based superalloys for aircraft, gas turbine components, missiles, radio communication systems, advanced airframes, digital cameras, mobile phones, high-temperature furnace parts, and alloys
• Indian Availability: Not available; current needs are met via imports
────────────────────────────── 25. Tellurium
• Value Chain: Clean technologies
• Major Applications: Solar power, thermoelectric devices, rubber vulcanising
• Specific Products: Used in metal alloys (with copper and steel), solar cells, semiconductors, CDs/DVDs, vulcanized rubber, and chemical catalysts in oil refining
• Indian Availability: No production
────────────────────────────── 26. Tin
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Aerospace, construction, home décor, electronics, jewellery, telecommunications
• Specific Products: Lead–acid batteries, tinplate, metal packaging, decorative elements, countertops, solders, chemicals
• Indian Availability: Produced as concentrates and metal in Chhattisgarh (by CMDC & Precision Minerals & Smelting in Dantewada); supply is from domestic production combined with partial imports
────────────────────────────── 27. Titanium
• Value Chain: Clean technologies; advanced manufacturing; defence & security technologies
• Major Applications: Aerospace and defence, chemicals and petrochemicals, pigments, polymers
• Specific Products: Used in colour pigments (in paint, plastics, paper), metal alloys (aluminium, steel, molybdenum), aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, non-corrosive pipes, ship/submarine hulls, medical implants, sunscreen, and specialty Li-ion battery anode materials
• Indian Availability: Titanium Sponge Plant is located at KMML (Chavara, Kollam, Kerala); major resources/reserves are available along the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Gujarat, and Maharashtra
────────────────────────────── 28. Tungsten
• Value Chain: Advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Mill and cutting tools, mining and construction tools, catalysts, pigments, aeronautics, energy uses (e.g., tungsten carbide)
• Specific Products: Used in high-penetration alloys for weaponry, rockets, missiles, cutting tools, filament wires, electrodes, superalloys, and in drilling (oil and gas)
• Indian Availability: Not available; requirements are met via imports
────────────────────────────── 29. Vanadium
• Value Chain: Clean technologies and advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: Alloys and batteries
• Specific Products: Used in metal alloys (steel), military armour plating, vehicle axles, piston rods, crankshafts, vanadium redox flow batteries, nuclear reactor components, superconducting magnets, and pigments for ceramics and glass
• Indian Availability: Total estimated reserves (as of 1.4.2015) are 24.63 million tonnes with an estimated V₂O₅ content of 64,594 tonnes
• Remarks: Emphasis is placed on R&D to explore production from bauxite mine tailings and opening new mines
────────────────────────────── 30. Zircon
• Value Chain: Clean technologies and advanced manufacturing
• Major Applications: High-value chemical manufacturing, electronics, nuclear fuel-rod cladding, aerospace components (e.g., nose cones, re-entry vehicles, jet engine coatings, heat shields), catalytic fuel converters, refractories
• Specific Products: IREL and KMML are involved in its production; it is obtained as a by-product during the beneficiation of heavy mineral sands (notably in Manavalakurichi, Tamil Nadu and Chavara)
• Indian Availability: Present in domestic production
