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India's Critical Minerals Push: Vaishnaw Stresses Supply Chain Resilience for Manufacturing

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the vital importance of strengthening critical mineral supply chains for India's manufacturing and electronics sector resilience at a ministerial meeting in the United States. The government has recently announced a Rs 7,280 crore scheme to establish domestic manufacturing capacity for sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets, aiming to reduce import dependence. The initiative is designed to attract investment, support energy-transition goals, and contribute to India's Net Zero 2070 vision. India is also engaging in multilateral platforms like the Minerals Security Partnership to build resilient international supply chains for these essential resources.

Key Points: India's Critical Minerals Strategy for Manufacturing Resilience

  • Supply chain resilience for manufacturing
  • New REPM magnet production scheme
  • Rs 7,280 crore investment for self-reliance
  • International cooperation on critical minerals
2 min read

Robust critical mineral supply chains vital to boost India's manufacturing goals: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasizes robust critical mineral supply chains to boost India's manufacturing and electronics sector at US meeting.

Robust critical mineral supply chains vital to boost India's manufacturing goals: Ashwini Vaishnaw
"Strengthening critical mineral supply chains is vital to enhancing the resilience of India's manufacturing capabilities - Ashwini Vaishnaw"

New Delhi, Jan 13

Union Minister for Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Tuesday said that strengthening critical mineral supply chains is vital to enhancing the resilience of India's manufacturing capabilities, as he participated in the 'Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting' in the United States.

Vaishnaw on Sunday arrived in the US to participate in the key meeting hosted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"Participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting hosted by Treasury Secretary. Strengthening critical mineral supply chains is vital to enhancing the resilience of India's manufacturing capabilities and rapidly growing electronics sector," the minister posted on X social media platform.

Bessent said that he was pleased to hear a strong, shared desire to quickly address key vulnerabilities in critical minerals supply chains.

"I am optimistic that nations will pursue prudent derisking over decoupling and understand well the need for decisive action," said the US Treasury Secretary.

Vaishnaw's US visit comes at a time when the government has recently announced a scheme to promote the manufacturing of sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM), which aims to enhance India's participation in global advanced-materials value chains while reducing import dependence.

The scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 7,280 crore also aims to enable long-term industrial growth by establishing 6,000 metric tonnes per annum of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity covering the full chain from rare‑earth oxides to finished magnets, according to an official statement issued recently.

The scheme is designed to enhance competitiveness, attract technology‑driven investment and support long‑term scalability while contributing to energy‑transition goals and India's Net Zero 2070 vision, it added. By establishing domestic capability and strengthening downstream linkages, this government's initiative will help generate employment, deepen industrial capacity and support the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India also participates in multilateral platforms such as the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to build resilient critical minerals supply chains.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see India actively participating in global forums like MSP and IPEF. Partnerships are key, but we must ensure the benefits and technology truly transfer to our domestic industry. The "derisking over decoupling" approach mentioned by the US Secretary sounds pragmatic.
V
Vikram M
While the intent is good, I have concerns. These schemes often get announced with big numbers but the execution is slow. We need to see clear timelines, transparency in fund allocation, and regular progress reports. Let's not just talk about 'Net Zero 2070', but act with urgency now.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the electronics manufacturing sector, this is welcome news. A stable supply of critical minerals and components like REPMs is our biggest bottleneck. If this initiative can reduce our lead times and costs, it will be a massive boost for 'Make in India'.
R
Rohit P
Building the full chain from rare-earth oxides to finished magnets is ambitious and exactly what we need. It's not just about manufacturing; it's about capturing the entire value chain. This can create high-skilled jobs and reduce our vulnerability to global supply shocks. Good move!
K
Karthik V
Hope the environmental impact of mining and processing these rare earth minerals is also part of the plan. We can't pursue self-reliance at the cost of our ecology. Sustainable and responsible sourcing must be a non-negotiable pillar of this strategy.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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