India Intensifies Rare Earth Exploration Amid Rising Imports
07 Apr 2025
2 Min Read
CW Team
India鈥檚 imports of rare earth elements (REE) have steadily increased over the past five years, rising from 1,848 tonnes in 2019鈥�20 to 2,270 tonnes in 2023鈥�24, according to data shared by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in Parliament. The bulk of these imports came from China, followed by Japan, Russia, Korea, and a few other countries.
To reduce import dependency, the government has ramped up domestic exploration efforts. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is spearheading a national campaign under the National Critical Mineral Mission, focusing on increasing domestic production and securing foreign supply chains.
During 2021鈥�23, GSI initiated three reconnaissance-stage (G4) projects in Rajasthan鈥檚 Sirohi and Bhilwara districts targeting neodymium, a key rare earth metal. Simultaneously, the Department of Atomic Energy identified 111,845 tonnes of in-situ REE oxide reserves in Balotra, Rajasthan.
Under the field season programme for 2024鈥�25, GSI is executing 195 exploration projects, including 35 in Rajasthan, covering areas such as Barmer, Sikar, Sirohi, Udaipur, Alwar, and more. These projects are aimed at REEs and associated minerals like tungsten, tin, niobium, tantalum, hafnium, lithium, and basemetals.
Since the MMDR Amendment Act of 2015, GSI has established REE resources in Barmer and Sikar and submitted multiple reports to facilitate auctioning of these mineral blocks.
This strategic push highlights India鈥檚 commitment to developing a robust critical minerals supply chain, crucial for the country鈥檚 clean energy transition, electronics manufacturing, and defence industries.
(PIB)
India鈥檚 imports of rare earth elements (REE) have steadily increased over the past five years, rising from 1,848 tonnes in 2019鈥�20 to 2,270 tonnes in 2023鈥�24, according to data shared by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in Parliament. The bulk of these imports came from China, followed by Japan, Russia, Korea, and a few other countries.To reduce import dependency, the government has ramped up domestic exploration efforts. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is spearheading a national campaign under the National Critical Mineral Mission, focusing on increasing domestic production and securing foreign supply chains.During 2021鈥�23, GSI initiated three reconnaissance-stage (G4) projects in Rajasthan鈥檚 Sirohi and Bhilwara districts targeting neodymium, a key rare earth metal. Simultaneously, the Department of Atomic Energy identified 111,845 tonnes of in-situ REE oxide reserves in Balotra, Rajasthan.Under the field season programme for 2024鈥�25, GSI is executing 195 exploration projects, including 35 in Rajasthan, covering areas such as Barmer, Sikar, Sirohi, Udaipur, Alwar, and more. These projects are aimed at REEs and associated minerals like tungsten, tin, niobium, tantalum, hafnium, lithium, and basemetals.Since the MMDR Amendment Act of 2015, GSI has established REE resources in Barmer and Sikar and submitted multiple reports to facilitate auctioning of these mineral blocks.This strategic push highlights India鈥檚 commitment to developing a robust critical minerals supply chain, crucial for the country鈥檚 clean energy transition, electronics manufacturing, and defence industries.(PIB)
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