Two More Centres of Excellence Recognised by Mines Ministry Under Critical Minerals Mission

Introduction

In a significant push toward India’s critical minerals self-reliance, the Ministry of Mines has officially recognised two new Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the Critical Minerals Mission, bringing the total number of such institutions to five across the country. The move aims to accelerate research, innovation, and sustainable extraction of essential minerals needed for the nation’s clean energy and technology goals.

New Centres to Drive Innovation

The newly recognised Centres of Excellence are located at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela. These institutions will focus on advanced exploration technologies, mineral processing, and value chain development for key resources such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements.

“These Centres will serve as the backbone for India’s critical minerals ecosystem, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government,” said Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao, while announcing the recognition.

Strategic Significance of Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors, renewable energy systems, and defence technologies.
India currently imports over 80% of its critical mineral requirements, making domestic capacity development a top priority under the National Critical Minerals Strategy 2030.

The newly recognised Centres will help the government in reducing import dependence and promoting indigenous technology development in critical mineral exploration and processing.

Focus Areas of the New Centres

Each Centre of Excellence will focus on specialized areas to build a comprehensive research framework:

• IIT Madras CoE: Development of next-generation extraction and recycling technologies, particularly for lithium-ion batteries and urban mining from e-waste.

• NIT Rourkela CoE: Research on processing technologies for rare earth elements (REEs) and high-efficiency mineral recovery from complex ores and mine tailings.

Both institutions will also collaborate with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), and industry partners for pilot projects and technology transfer.

Government’s Push for Critical Minerals Mission

The Critical Minerals Mission, launched earlier this year, aims to identify, secure, and develop 30 essential minerals critical for India’s economic and strategic growth. The Mission also envisions global partnerships to secure raw material supply chains, especially with countries like Australia, Canada, and Argentina.

“We are building not just extraction capabilities, but an entire ecosystem of innovation and value addition,” said Union Minister for Mines, Pralhad Joshi. “The recognition of these Centres is another step toward achieving India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision in the mining sector.”

Industry Collaboration and Global Partnerships

The Mines Ministry is encouraging private sector participation through joint R&D programs and public-private partnerships (PPP) with global technology leaders. Companies engaged in battery manufacturing, renewable energy, and mining are expected to work closely with the new Centres to develop commercially viable technologies.

The move also aligns with India’s recent bilateral agreements with Australia and the United States on critical minerals cooperation.

Looking Ahead

With these additions, India now has a network of five Centres of Excellence focusing on different aspects of critical mineral research and policy development.
Officials believe that within the next two years, these Centres will play a pivotal role in developing sustainable supply chains, enhancing domestic capacity, and supporting the country’s green transition goals.