Context
NITI Aayog and TEXMiN signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) to strengthen India’s critical and strategic minerals ecosystem through research, innovation and indigenous technology development.
About the Collaboration
1. Key Institutions
- NITI Aayog: The Government of India’s premier public policy think tank, established in 2015.
- TEXMiN: Technology Translation Research Park, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), located at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
2. Objectives
- Strengthen indigenous technological capabilities in critical minerals.
- Promote research, innovation and technology commercialisation.
- Develop resilient and sustainable critical mineral value chains.
- Support the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
3. Four Key Areas of Cooperation
- Collaborative research and technology development.
- Technical and strategic studies.
- Policy and institutional support.
- Capacity building and knowledge exchange.
4. Integrated Critical Mineral Value Chain
- Exploration: Identification and assessment of mineral resources.
- Processing and Refining: Extraction and purification of valuable minerals.
- Advanced Materials: Development of materials for high-technology applications.
- Recycling: Recovery of minerals from secondary resources.
5. Secondary Sources of Critical Minerals
Critical minerals can also be recovered from:
- Coal fly ash.
- Red mud.
- Mine tailings.
- Electronic waste (e-waste).
Significance
- Reduces dependence on external critical mineral supply chains.
- Strengthens national security and technological self-reliance.
- Promotes sustainable resource utilisation and a circular economy.
- Encourages collaboration among government, academia, research institutions and industry.
Conclusion
The NITI Aayog–TEXMiN collaboration aims to build a resilient, sustainable and technology-driven critical minerals ecosystem, supporting India’s strategic autonomy and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
| Important CTC from this Article: National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) |