India’s Rs 1,500-crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme is gaining significant traction, with over 70 recycling companies already registered and more than 10 having met eligibility criteria.

The initiative, announced last October to promote the recycling of critical minerals, aims to create 270,000 tonne of recycling capacity.

Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director of JNARDDC, noted during the IMRC 2026 conference that the scheme is operational and has received strong support from the industry. He added, “India has identified 24 critical minerals, many of which remain fully or largely import-dependent, making scrap availability, processing, and recovery a strategic priority.” The scheme offers differentiated incentives: up to Rs 50 crore for companies with annual turnovers above Rs 200 crore, and up to Rs 25 crore for smaller recyclers. Dr. Agnihotri also stressed, “There is a narrow window of five to six years. Countries are already moving towards resource nationalism. Soon, they will restrict exports not just of ores but also of scrap and waste. India must act now to build domestic recycling and recovery capacity if it wants secure supply chains.” The scheme emphasizes high-quality recovery from scrap rather than just expanding volume, with guidelines ensuring that only serious, technology-driven recyclers benefit. 

In an international context, Dr. Rachana Arora of GIZ India shared, “Critical raw materials are no longer a single-country issue. India and the European Union are moving toward coordinated approaches on batteries, renewables, and electronics, with recycling and urban mining emerging as common priorities.” She noted the growing global alignment in the critical minerals sector.

From the technology front, Dr. Alok Ranjan Paital, Principal Scientist at CSIR-CSMCRI, emphasized, “Hydrometallurgy remains central to battery recycling, but advanced processes such as direct cathode-to-cathode regeneration can further reduce energy use and material loss, provided purity challenges are addressed.”

Vijay Pareek, Executive Director at Gravita India Ltd., remarked, “Clear eligibility norms, incentive structures, and timelines provide confidence to investors and recyclers, accelerating formalisation and capacity creation in scrap-based recovery.” This initiative, which includes the opening of applications through April 2026 and the establishment of Centres of Excellence, marks a structural shift in India’s critical mineral strategy.