The National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) is a comprehensive scheme launched by the Government of India to secure a sustainable supply of critical minerals essential for the nation's economic development, national security, and clean energy transition. The mission was approved by the Union Cabinet on January 29, 2025, following an announcement in the Union Budget for 2024-25 on July 23, 2024. The need for the NCMM arose from the high supply risk and import dependence for these minerals, which are vital for high-tech industries, clean energy technologies like Electric Vehicles (EVs), and defense.
The NCMM is a seven-year scheme running from FY 2024-25 to FY 2030-31, with a total outlay of ₹34,300 crore. Its mechanism encompasses the entire value chain, from exploration to recycling. Key provisions include intensifying domestic exploration with a target of 1,200 projects and auctioning over 100 critical mineral blocks. It also promotes the acquisition of critical mineral assets abroad by Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and private companies, with the government providing support and risk coverage. Furthermore, the mission includes a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme for mineral recycling to recover critical minerals from end-of-life products like e-waste and Lithium-Ion Battery scrap. The NCMM also aims to create a National Critical Minerals Stockpile of at least 5 critical minerals to mitigate supply chain disruptions.
The mission is closely connected to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), which was amended in 2023 and 2025 to facilitate the exploration and mining of critical minerals. A key change was the inclusion of 24 critical minerals in Part D of Schedule I of the MMDR Act, giving the Central Government the exclusive authority to auction their mining leases. The NCMM is also part of the larger Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, focusing on self-reliance in the critical mineral sector.