Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Charts Path for Mineral Self-Reliance and Innovation at National Seminar
HYDERABAD, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy chaired the Seminar on the Centre of Excellence under the National Critical Mineral Mission in Hyderabad. The Minister outlined the government’s vision for promoting mineral self-reliance, attracting investment, and advancing technological capabilities in the sector. He highlighted the steps taken to accelerate exploration, reduce import dependence, and create a robust ecosystem for critical minerals that are vital for defence, electronics, and renewable energy sectors. He emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and a whole-of-government approach to ensure sustainable growth in the mineral sector.
As part of the Seminar, detailed deliberations were held on strengthening research and development in critical minerals through the recognised Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and their associated industry, academic, and R&D partners under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM). Heads of the seven CoEs — IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur, and NFTDC Hyderabad — presented their ongoing research, innovations, and translational efforts in the field of critical raw materials, while industry representatives shared their priorities, potential support mechanisms, and frameworks for deeper R&D engagement.
The seminar featured four technical sessions, which outlined a well-defined R&D roadmap for advancing indigenous technologies in the efficient processing and refining of critical minerals The sessions focused on institutionalizing CoEs through governance and hub-and-spoke coordination; identifying industry priorities and enhancing participation in R&D projects; advancing big-ticket translational R&D initiatives to scale innovations up to TRL 7/8 pilot plants and pre-commercial demonstrations; and aligning the CoEs’ R&D agenda with the requirements of India’s strategic sectors.
The deliberations underscored the importance of a whole-of-government approach, close collaboration between CoEs and their spokes, and active participation from industry to accelerate innovation, reduce import dependence, and build domestic capacity in critical minerals. The outcomes of the Seminar have laid a strong foundation for collaborative action under NCMM and will serve as a roadmap for positioning India as a global leader in critical minerals research, processing, and technology innovation.
During the event, the Minister released the CEEW report “Making India a Hub for Critical Minerals Processing” along with a roadmap booklet for enhancing domestic processing capabilities. Shakil Alam, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Mines, and Prof. B. S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, provided insights on academia-industry collaboration. Awards were presented to Centres of Excellence for their contribution to research and capacity building. Reddy also announced that from tomorrow onwards, a uniform welfare framework will be implemented across all Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) under the Ministry, covering all regular mining employees under a ₹1 crore insurance scheme to ensure safety, dignity, and social security.
The Minister also launched the 6th tranche of auction comprising 23 blocks — 19 Composite Licence (CL) and 4 Mining Lease (ML) blocks — across 13 states. These blocks, spread across Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, host minerals crucial…
