Archive · 8 Nov 2025
India Urged to Collaborate with Friendly Nations for Rare Earth Mineral Success
Imagine India wants to get important rocks called rare earth minerals, which are used in phones and electric cars.
These minerals aren't actually rare, but they are tricky to dig up and clean.
Experts think India should work with its friends, like Japan or the US, to get these minerals.
One idea is to let other countries help India develop these minerals together.
Another idea is that India needs to get much better at finding and processing these minerals by itself first.
Some of these minerals are found a lot in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India, but India needs to learn how to clean and use them properly.
So, the experts are discussing how India can best get these important rocks for its future.
Industry leaders advocate for collaboration with friendly countries to advance India's rare-earth mineral sector.
Experts at a CII conference suggested India should be open to partnerships for rare-earth material development.
Air Marshal M Matheswaran highlighted the need to build India's capabilities, prioritizing this over immediate global leadership.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala have significant reserves of monazite, a source of rare-earth elements, but processing capabilities are limited.
Rare earth minerals, a group of 17 elements, are crucial for modern technologies like smartphones and electric vehicles.
- Who
- Industry leaders, NITI Aayog Deputy Adviser R Saravanabhavan, former Air Marshal M Matheswaran, and TIDCO Vice President P Madhusoodhanan
- What
- Discussion on India's strategy for success in the rare-earth minerals sector, emphasizing collaboration and capability development.
- When
- November 7
- Where
- Chennai
- Why
- To address the need for India to secure its supply chain for critical rare-earth minerals, essential for modern technology.
Collaboration Focus
Capability Development Focus
Partnership Strategy
Collaboration Focus
India should 'open the floor' for development and readily partner with any country interested in collaborating on rare-earth materials.
Capability Development Focus
While partnerships with friendly nations are necessary, the immediate priority should be significantly developing India's own capabilities before focusing on global leadership in rare earths.
Technology Acquisition
Collaboration Focus
The focus should be on collaborating with countries like Japan, Australia, Singapore, Korea, the US, and the UK.
Capability Development Focus
These friendly nations have industry and trade relations, but 'nobody gives you tech,' implying a need for indigenous development or strategic tech transfer.
- Event
- CII Conference on 'Building Resilient Rare Earth Metal (REM) Supply Chains Through Technology Localisation'
- Location
- Chennai
- Date
- November 7
- Key Resource
- Monazite
- Geographic Concentration
- Tamil Nadu and Kerala
- Rare Earth Elements Definition
- A group of 17 chemical elements (15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium)