India Will Hold 6 Months Of Critical Minerals
The Ministries of Mines and Heavy Industries are finalising a national reserve of lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earths. Industry consultations are already happening.
Today, India imports 100% of its lithium, cobalt, and nickel. China refines 70% of the world's supply. When China cut gallium and germanium exports last year, electronics buyers across Asia and Europe felt it in their lead times within weeks.
The reserve is the government's answer.
What Changes On The Ground
When the reserve goes live, three things shift for any manufacturer using these metals:
Spot prices ease. The government becomes a steady buyer, so panic-buying during a global shock has less effect on the open market.
Long-term contracts get better terms. Suppliers compete harder when there is a guaranteed buyer floor.
Lead times stabilise. Lithium and copper buyers will feel this fastest. Both saw the sharpest price spikes in 2025.
What Is Already Moving
The reserve is not starting from zero. KABIL, a joint venture under the Ministry of Mines, has already secured a 15,703-hectare lithium block in Catamarca, Argentina. Coal India, Oil India, ONGC Videsh, and NLC India are jointly evaluating overseas mining bids. Customs duties on most critical mineral imports were eliminated in the 2024-25 Union Budget.
The Geological Survey of India has 195 active exploration projects this financial year, with 227 more planned for 2025-26. Centres of Excellence are being set up at IIT Bombay and other research institutions.
The Bigger Picture
The reserve sits inside the National Critical Mineral Mission, a ₹34,300 crore, 7-year plan covering 1,200 exploration projects, 50 overseas mining acquisitions, and four new mineral processing parks by 2031.
The list covers 30 critical minerals, including antimony, graphite, titanium, and tungsten. The US, China, South Korea, and Japan already have mineral reserves. India is catching up.
Track The Mission
Project lists, mineral targets, recycling incentive schemes, and Centre of Excellence updates are published by the Ministry of Mines.