Minerals

Saudi Arabia unveils 110-mn-tonne rare earth, uranium find as US ties grow

The discovery comes as Riyadh races to develop domestic critical minerals and a civilian nuclear energy programme, while seeking to build a broader value chain around uranium and rare earth elements

China extracts critical metals from lithium waste in a global first

China's new 17-tower extraction system can recover more than 98% of caesium and 95% of rubidium from lithium-processing waste, creating a new domestic source of the metals

Govt backs private miners' overseas push to secure critical minerals

Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy says the government is working with the External Affairs Ministry to support private miners seeking opportunities in mineral-rich countries

Best of BS Opinion: Government must get real on spending

Today's opinions examine India's critical-minerals strategy, FSSAI's food-warning labels, Budget discipline, the RBI's dollar-rupee swaps and lessons from industrial policy

Mission mineral

India needs to build processing capabilities

Indian miners building critical mineral assets in resource-rich Africa

Das said India's graphite demand is expected to rise sharply as battery manufacturing gathers pace, but China continues to dominate the global supply chain

India, Zambia resume talks on copper, critical mineral investments

Officials from India's Mines Ministry held preliminary talks with Zambia on August 26 as New Delhi seeks overseas sources of copper and other critical minerals

Chhattisgarh eyes ₹4 trillion revenue from 65 auctioned mineral blocks

Five Chhattisgarh blocks are part of the Centre's latest critical mineral auction as the state seeks a key role in India's strategic mineral supply chains

MMDR Bill 2026 explained: Why states are opposing the new mining rules

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by Parliament on August 13, 2026,

Nalco launches pilot plant to recover value-added products, rare earths

The facility, developed with IMMT and KIIT, will focus on recovering ferro-titanium alloy, metallic iron and rare earth elements, including scandium, from industrial residue

MMDR Bill may ease retrospective tax burden on miners, steelmakers

The Bill seeks to restrict states' powers to impose taxes and cesses on mineral rights and could provide relief from retrospective liabilities arising from a 2024 SC ruling

NMDC scouts Argentina's copper belt as critical minerals push gathers pace

State-run miner explores partnerships across six Argentine provinces for copper, lithium and rare earths as it expands its overseas critical minerals strategy

India's critical minerals demand set to surge 10 times by 2047: Report

Grant Thornton Bharat has called for faster investment in recycling, refining, traceability, and overseas assets as clean energy and electric mobility drive mineral demand

India and Myanmar deepen rare earths ties amid China supply concerns

India and Myanmar are strengthening cooperation on rare earths and critical minerals, as Centre seeks to diversify supplies of strategic resources dominated by China

Odisha's Paradip to anchor critical minerals value chain with mega park

Paradip has been selected as one of four locations for critical mineral processing parks under the NCMM to strengthen domestic supply chains for EVs, semiconductors and defence

Centre offers 20 critical mineral blocks in eighth auction tranche

The Centre has launched the eighth tranche of critical mineral auctions, offering 20 blocks across nine states as it seeks to strengthen India's strategic mineral value chain

Why critical minerals are becoming central to India's bilateral deals

As competition for critical minerals intensifies, India is strengthening partnerships with resource-rich nations to secure supplies needed for its clean energy, EV and semiconductor ambitions

France pitches processing partnership for India's rare earth ambitions

French official says India should invest in rare earth processing and refining before domestic mines start production, while expanding technology, financing and research partnerships

Govt scraps 9 critical mineral blocks auction citing poor investor response

The government has cancelled the auction of nine critical and strategic mineral blocks, citing poor investor response and lack of qualified bidders. These blocks were put on the block in the seventh round of sale. The development comes as a setback to the government's efforts to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals that are central to the country's push for energy security, clean-tech manufacturing and cutting down dependence on imports. It also reflects the challenge of drawing private investment into riskier mineral assets, where technical complexities, higher capital costs and regulatory uncertainties tend to dampen bidding interest. The government had cancelled several critical and strategic mineral block auctions in the previous rounds as well -- 11 blocks in the sixth round, five in the fifth, 11 in the fourth, three in the third, 14 in the second and 13 in the first tranche. "Since there were nil bids... the auction process for... two mineral bloc

'Free and open Indo-Pacific' top agenda of Modi-Takaichi talks in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi are expected to deepen cooperation in defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, supply chains and energy security