The Centre has accelerated its efforts to secure India’s supply chain for rare-earth elements (REEs), essential for manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and defence equipment. In response to China’s recent export restrictions on permanent magnets, which are vital components in EV propulsion systems, speakers, power windows, and renewable energy infrastructure, India convened a series of high-level inter-ministerial meetings on 17 June, 2025 to assess and strengthen the domestic availability of these strategic resources.
Steel and Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy stated, “This inter-ministerial effort will pave the way for India’s self-reliance in strategic materials crucial for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, defence and other sectors.” The meetings were jointly chaired by Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy and Kumaraswamy and included representatives from the Atomic Energy, and Commerce Ministries.
To fast-track domestic production, the government is considering amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act to support the Critical Mineral Mission and expand output capacity. The Centre also anticipates small-scale, commercially viable domestic production of rare-earth permanent magnets by year-end, reducing reliance on imports.