NITI Aayog and TEXMiN (Technology Translation Research Park), an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) to strengthen collaboration in the critical and strategic minerals sector.
The collaboration aims to advance indigenous technological capabilities, promote research & innovation and support the development of resilient and sustainable critical mineral value chains in India. It aligns with the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and the vision of an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.
The SoI was signed during the visit of Prof. Gobardhan Das, Member, NITI Aayog, to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, where he inaugurated the National Symposium on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (CMRE 2026) on 31 October 2026, organised as part of the 45th Annual National Conference of the Indian Council of Chemists.
Addressing the symposium, Prof. Das highlighted the importance of critical minerals as strategic enablers of national security, technological self-reliance and India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Drawing on India’s rich metallurgical heritage, he emphasised the need to build indigenous technological capabilities through research, innovation and industry collaboration.
He stressed the need to move beyond a mine-centric approach towards an integrated value chain encompassing exploration, processing, refining, advanced materials and recycling. He also highlighted the potential of recovering critical minerals from secondary resources such as coal fly ash, red mud, mine tailings and electronic waste, while underscoring the importance of translating research into commercially viable technologies and promoting sustainable resource utilisation.
The Joint Statement of Intent between NITI Aayog and TEXMiN envisages cooperation in four key areas: collaborative research and technology development; technical and strategic studies; policy and institutional support; and capacity building and knowledge exchange.
The collaboration aims to strengthen indigenous capabilities, facilitate technology translation and promote stronger linkages among government, academia, research institutions and industry.
The symposium brought together policymakers, researchers, technology developers and industry representatives to deliberate on strengthening India’s critical minerals and rare earths ecosystem.
The initiative is expected to contribute to India’s efforts towards building resilient critical mineral supply chains and advancing technological self-reliance.Ll