The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a strategic scheme launched by the Government of India to secure a long-term, sustainable supply of critical minerals essential for the nation's clean energy transition, technology, and defense sectors. The mission was announced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget speech for 2024-25 on July 23, 2024, and the Union Cabinet approved its establishment on January 29, 2025. It was created to address India's high import dependence for these minerals, which makes the country vulnerable to global supply disruptions.
The NCMM is set for a seven-year period, from FY 2024-25 to 2030-31, with a total outlay of ₹34,300 crore. Its mechanism is multi-pronged, focusing on strengthening the entire value chain from exploration to recycling. Key provisions include a target of completing 1,200 domestic exploration projects and acquiring 50 foreign mining assets by 2030-31. A ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme was approved on September 3, 2025, to boost recycling capacity for materials like e-waste and Lithium-Ion Battery scrap, aiming to recover 400 kilotonnes of recycled material.
The mission is closely connected to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957), as 24 critical minerals were included in Part D of Schedule I of the Act, granting the Central Government exclusive auctioning rights. It also works with Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) for foreign asset acquisition and aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Recently, the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023 were amended, effective August 31, 2025, to expedite forest clearance for critical mineral mining projects, which are now treated as projects of Security and strategic importance.