The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a Rs 1,500 crore incentive scheme to promote recycling of critical minerals, under the broader National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).

According to the Mines Ministry, "The Union Cabinet…today approved a Rs 1,500 crore incentive scheme," which will help build recycling capacity for separating and producing critical minerals from secondary sources like e-waste, Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) scrap, and catalytic converters in end-of-life vehicles. The NCMM, earlier sanctioned with an outlay of Rs 16,300 crore and a total corpus of Rs 34,300 crore over seven years, aims to strengthen domestic capacity and reduce import dependence. Public sector enterprises are expected to contribute Rs 18,000 crore to the mission.

Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths are key inputs for clean energy technologies. The scheme’s objectives include enhancing exploration, overseas block acquisition, processing technologies, and recycling, thereby securing India’s supply chain for its green energy transition.