Vijay Garg
India is steadily carving a formidable position in the global mining landscape, particularly in rare earth elements (REE), positioning itself as a key player in strategic minerals vital for advanced technologies.
Recent explorations in Rajasthan’s Sirohi and Bhilwara districts, targeting neodymium — a critical REE — demonstrate India’s potential to harness these minerals for applications spanning electronics, defence, aerospace, and clean energy. This progress stems from a holistic approach combining visionary research and development, start-ups, public infrastructure such as Centres of Excellence, thematic mining parks, and innovation schemes. Together, these initiatives foster collaboration among government agencies, industry, academia, and entrepreneurs, paving the way for India to emerge as a global 3M hub — Mining, Minerals, and Materials.
Rare earth elements, often dubbed the “vitamins” of modern electronics, underpin today’s digital, opto-electronics, and green-energy industries.
Discovered in 1794 by Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin, their “rare” designation reflects uneven geographical distribution and extraction challenges rather than scarcity. IUPAC classifies REE within the f-block of the periodic table, comprising 15 lanthanides (atomic numbers 57–71), along with scandium and yttrium.
They are further categorized into Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) and Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE), distinguished by their electronic configurations and physical properties.India’s scientific institutions are actively mapping and evaluating these resources.
The CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad, for instance, has identified significant LREE deposits in Andhra Pradesh’s Ananthapur district. LREEs — including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, yttrium, hafnium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, and scandium — are indispensable in modern industries due to properties such as low energy consumption, thermal stability, durability, luminous intensity, and color determination. These characteristics make them essential for electronics, automotive, industrial machinery, aerospace, and defence applications.
Recognizing their strategic value, the Government of India has implemented several forward-looking initiatives.
The National Mineral Mission encourages innovation, facilitates extraction and processing, promotes mineral parks, and supports recycling, particularly e-waste. It also drives patent development, capacity-building, and youth employability. Complementing this, the Mineral Outreach Forum bridges gaps between government agencies, industry stakeholders, start-ups, and academia, promoting a “Make in Mining India” ecosystem.
District Mineral Foundations ensure sustainable and responsible development in mining-affected regions.
Research ecosystems are central to India’s ambitions in rare earth elements. Critical minerals underpin emerging sectors, including clean energy, automotive, aerospace, and space technologies.
Centres of Excellence (CoEs), established under the National Critical Mineral Mission in institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIT Roorkee, CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur, and NFTDC Hyderabad, operate in a Hub & Spoke model to foster collaboration across government, industry, MSMEs, and investors. These initiatives support India’s broader goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit@2047.
Other national research institutions, including the National Institute of Rock Mechanics, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (Thiruvananthapuram), National Metallurgical Laboratory (Jamshedpur), National Physical Laboratory (New Delhi), Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (Bhubaneswar), and Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (Dhanbad), play critical roles. Notably, collaborations like that between the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology and the Indian Council for Medical Research have developed rare earth phosphate coatings for biodegradable magnesium-based implants, demonstrating REE’s potential beyond industrial applications.
To accelerate research and technology transfer, the Ministry of Mines launched the Satyabhama portal — Science and Technology for Aatmanirbhar Bharat for Mining Advancement. Collaborative efforts with institutions like the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) in Nagpur are advancing REE extraction techniques, including recovery of europium from alumina displays and niobium and tantalum from ores, while promoting sustainable bioleaching technologies.
Entrepreneurship is integral to India’s mining ecosystem. Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL), under the Department of Atomic Energy, is developing the Rare Earth Metal and Titanium Theme Park in Bhopal to commercialize technologies developed by BARC, supporting start-ups and innovators. E-waste recycling through bioleaching, biosorption, and pyrometallurgical processes addresses both supply chain and environmental challenges.
The sector’s growth is fueling demand for skilled professionals in chemical engineering, materials science, and metallurgical engineering. Emerging technologies such as AI, automation, sensors, image processing, and machine learning are increasingly applied in mining research.
Universities and technical institutes are equipping students with tools like MATLAB, Simulink, Rockscience, and AnyLogic for simulation and design. Skilling initiatives are extensive: IREL Tamil Nadu provides apprenticeships, the National Institute of Rock Mechanics trains international partners, and the National Skill Development Corporation has established a mining sector skill council. Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies — including AI, digital twins, AR/VR, and the metaverse — enhance training, operational efficiency, and innovation. Platforms like NPTEL offer courses in mineral resources, mining machinery, automation, data analytics, and e-waste management, while Atal Tinkering Labs encourage IoT, 3D printing, and robotics-driven innovation.
Looking ahead, India is building a self-reliant mining ecosystem focused on REE research, development, and technology commercialization.
The Indian Semiconductor Mission’s launch of India-made chips at Mohali demonstrates readiness for high-tech self-reliance. Public-private partnerships and international collaborations will strengthen skilling initiatives, establishing Global Capability Centres and preparing a talent pool for future industry demands.
India’s strategic focus on mining, rare earth elements, and technological innovation reflects a bold vision: to emerge as a globally competitive, future-ready mining hub.
Through exploration, research, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and skill development, India is laying a strong foundation to drive its technological and industrial ambitions, aspiring to become a global leader in minerals and materials by 2047.
Vijay Garg Retired Principal Educational columnist Eminent Educationist street kour Chand MHR Malout Punjab |
