Cabinet Approves New Royalty Rates for Critical Minerals: Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium

New Delhi: In a significant policy move to boost domestic exploration and production of strategic resources, the Union Cabinet has approved new royalty rates for four key critical minerals — graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium.

The decision, aimed at ensuring transparency and encouraging private sector participation in the mining sector, marks another step toward India’s ambition of achieving self-reliance in critical mineral supply chains essential for clean energy, electronics, and defense industries.

According to the official statement, the approved royalty rates are designed to strike a balance between revenue for the state and incentives for investors to explore and develop domestic reserves. These minerals are crucial for applications such as battery manufacturing, aerospace components, semiconductors, and renewable technologies.

Officials from the Ministry of Mines stated that the move aligns with India’s Critical Minerals Strategy, which focuses on securing resources that are vital for the nation’s technological and industrial growth.

Industry experts believe the revision of royalty rates will help attract foreign and domestic investment in exploration, reduce import dependence, and position India as a key player in the global supply chain of energy-transition minerals.