Archive · 9 Jan 2026
India Focuses on Critical Minerals
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy talked about how important it is for India to get critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.
These minerals are needed for things like batteries and technology.
He said India should work faster to start mining and also get these minerals from old electronics and waste.
This is called urban mining.
He also mentioned that it takes a long time to start a new mine in India, sometimes 5-7 years, and we need to make this faster.
The minister believes that by using new technologies and working together, India can become a strong player in the mining world.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy emphasized the need to reduce the time taken to operationalise mines to be globally competitive.
He urged states to focus on extracting critical minerals from electronic waste through urban mining.
The mining sector is rapidly changing due to global geopolitics, focus on critical minerals, and new technologies.
India needs to accelerate exploration, minimize clearances, and expedite land acquisition and rehabilitation processes.
The minister highlighted the potential of urban mining and the introduction of a recycling incentive scheme to meet domestic demand for critical minerals.
- Who
- Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel
- What
- Stressing the need to reduce time for operationalising mines and focus on urban mining for critical minerals
- When
- January 9, 2026
- Where
- Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Why
- To meet domestic demand for critical minerals and enhance India's global competitiveness in the mining sector
- Speaker
- Union Minister G Kishan Reddy
- Event
- Rashtriya Khanij Chintan Shivir - 2026
- Location
- Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Date
- January 9, 2026
- Critical Minerals
- Lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements
- Urban Mining
- Extracting minerals from electronic waste
- Mining Gestation Period
- 5-7 years
- Exploration Increase
- 190% since 2014
Sources
Future wars may be fought over critical minerals, not land or oil: Union minister CR Patil
Kishan Reddy Underlines Need to Reduce Time Taken to Operationalise Mines
Speed up mine operations, focus on urban mining for critical minerals: Kishan Reddy
