India's Rare Earth 'Brahmastra' in Andhra: Curbs China, Boosts 5th Gen Tech

• India discovers vast, high-quality rare earth mineral reserves along Andhra Pradesh's 974 km coastline, including Monazite rich in rare earth oxides and Thorium.
• These strategic minerals are vital for advanced technologies like 5th generation fighter jets, electric vehicles, smartphones, missiles, green energy, and semiconductors.
• The discovery positions India to reduce its 95% dependence on rare earth imports, primarily from China, which currently controls 85% of global processing.
• Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) is spearheading mining and domestic value addition, with IREL planning a Monazite processing plant in Gudur, Nellore by 2026.
• This move aims to make India self-reliant in critical sectors, generate export revenue, and potentially decrease import dependence to 50% within five years.

Why It Matters: India's massive rare earth discovery in Andhra Pradesh is a game-changer for self-reliance in high-tech and defense.