India’s Mining Summit 2025: Industry Leaders Call for Urgent Action on Critical Minerals

At the India Mining Summit 2025, industry leaders underscored the growing importance of critical minerals in shaping India’s energy, technology, and industrial future. The discussions highlighted the urgency of policy action, skill development, and ecosystem-building to secure India’s mineral needs.

Arun Misra, Chairman of the CII National Committee on Mining and CEO of Hindustan Zinc Ltd, expressed confidence in India’s current direction. He pointed to measures such as the creation of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) fund and the recognition of new exploration companies as significant steps forward.

Vilas Tathwadkar, Chief Technology Officer of Hindalco Industries, called critical minerals “central to India’s transition story.” He noted their role in energy transition, electric mobility, and semiconductor technologies. However, he cautioned that India still faces key challenges, including gaps in purification technology for minerals like gallium and a shortage of expertise in mining, metallurgy, and mineral beneficiation.

Tathwadkar emphasized the need for a holistic ecosystem supported by startups, collaborations, and strong policy measures. He stressed that reforms must extend from exploration to end-use to reduce external dependency and achieve true self-reliance under Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

The summit echoed a common message: critical minerals are not just resources but strategic assets, requiring urgent collective action to fuel India’s technological and industrial ambitions.