India has stepped up its exploration efforts for critical and strategic minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements, vanadium, and others. These explorations are at G4 stage, that is, reconnaissance surveys to narrow down the site for further studies.

According to the Geographical Survey of India’s (GSI) Field Season 2023-24 report, lithium exploration projects are underway in three states, including Korba district in Chhattisgarh; South Garo Hills and East Garo Hills in Meghalaya; and Jammu, Ramban, Resai, Rajoury and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.

So far, the 5.9-million tonne reserve of lithium has only been found at Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir.Lithium, a non-ferrous alkali mineral, is in demand for the lithium-ion batteries required to run electric vehicles (EVs).

The Mineral Exploration and Consultation (MECL), under the Union Ministry of Mines, is exploring lithium and potassium under the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) at the Merak block in the Union Territory of Leh. Moreover, the exploration began in 2021-22 and is now at the G4 stage. 

Around 50 explorations are ongoing for rare earth elements (REE). In 2022-23, there were at least seven explorations for vanadium in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other places.