Critical Minerals, Lithium Reserves & Rare Earth Elements

Critical minerals—including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements (REEs)—are foundational to modern semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace technologies, and renewable energy transitions. In 2023, the Geological Survey of India identified substantial inferred lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana region of Reasi district in Jammu & Kashmir, and spodumene pegmatites in Mandya, Karnataka. India's rare earth reserves are primarily concentrated in coastal placers as monazite and ilmenite sand deposits along the shores of Kerala, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, processed by Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL). To secure overseas supplies of critical mineral assets, the joint venture Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) was established by the Ministry of Mines, partnering with resource-rich nations like Argentina, Australia, and Chile.