Rare Earth Corridor: India's Strategic Leap for Tech Sovereignty & Resilience

• HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, calls the proposed rare earth corridor a "national mission" for strategic resilience and tech-sovereignty.
• The corridor, spanning Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, aims to create an integrated value chain for advanced materials and high-technology manufacturing.
• It will encompass mining, processing, refining, component manufacturing, research, logistics, and skilled manpower development, reducing import dependence.
• The initiative is crucial for sectors like electric mobility, renewable energy, electronics, defense, and aerospace, positioning India as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
• The budget emphasizes innovation, research, skill development, and indigenous technology, fostering MSMEs and contributing to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

Why It Matters: India's rare earth corridor is a national mission to secure tech sovereignty, reduce import dependence, and boost advanced manufacturing.