India Fast-Tracks Critical Mineral Auctions, Boosts Exploration for Self-Reliance

• Government prioritizes identifying critical mineral deposits for quick auction under amended mining law.
• Faster approvals planned to complete exploration projects within a year, reducing multi-season delays.
• GSI's FY27 plan includes nearly 300 critical and strategic mineral projects, focusing on auction-ready deposits.
• Interim strategy involves recovering critical minerals from existing mine waste (dumps, tailings) to boost domestic supply.
• National Critical Mineral Mission launched to reduce import dependence, especially from China, for EV, battery, and electronics needs.

Why It Matters: India is accelerating critical mineral exploration and auctions to reduce import dependence and secure domestic supply.