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    BUSINESS & TRADE                                                          MAY 08, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 42

                Closing the Loop: India Bets Big on

             Recycling to Secure Critical Minerals

               Policy push, private investment and urban mining form the backbone of

                                         India’s evolving critical minerals strategy.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            ment. Experts stressed that while In-
                                                                                                                  dia has made progress in developing
            New Delhi / Mumbai
                                                                                                                  recycling technologies, translating
                ndia is accelerating efforts to                                                                   these innovations into large-scale
                secure its critical  minerals sup-                                                                operations will require sustained
            Iply chain through a strategy that                                                                    collaboration between government,
            blends  policy  incentives,  private  sec-                                                            industry and academia.
            tor participation and a strong push                                                                       The government’s approach re-
            toward recycling, as the country seeks                                                                flects a recognition that securing crit-
            to reduce import dependence and                                                                       ical minerals is not just about access-
            support its clean energy ambitions.                                                                   ing resources abroad but also about
                At the centre of this approach is                                                                 maximising domestic potential. By
            the Incentive Scheme for Promotion                                                                    incentivising recycling and promot-
            of Critical Mineral Recycling, rolled                                                                 ing urban mining, India is attempting
            out under the National Critical Min-                                                                  to create a parallel supply stream
            eral  Mission  with  an  outlay  of  Rs                                                               that is both sustainable and econom-
            1,500 crore. The Ministry of Mines                                                                    ically efficient.
            has now completed the eligibility as-                                                                     This strategy comes at a time
            sessment phase, approving 58 com-  Supply chains remain concentrated in a few countries, exposing import-dependent economies   when global competition for criti-
            panies to participate—marking a                                                                       cal minerals—essential for batteries,
            significant step in building domestic    to risks ranging from price volatility to geopolitical disruptions (File Photo)   semiconductors and clean energy
            capacity for recovering key minerals                                                                  technologies—is intensifying. Sup-
            from waste streams.               recovery from industrial residues,  discussions was the growing impor-  ply chains remain concentrated in a
                The scheme, notified on October   reflecting the broad-based nature of   tance of secondary resources—such   few countries, exposing import-de-
            2,  2025,  is  designed  to  create  a  cir-  India’s strategy. The next phase will   as mine waste, tailings, slags and   pendent economies to risks ranging
            cular economy for critical minerals   focus on project execution, where   industrial residues—as viable and   from price volatility to geopolitical
            by extracting value from lithium-ion   these entities will develop capacity   cost-effective sources of critical min-  disruptions.
            batteries, e-waste and industrial   and begin production, becoming el-  erals.  These  unconventional  inputs   However, challenges remain.
            scrap. Officials say this will not only   igible for financial support under the   are increasingly being seen as essen-  Building efficient collection systems
            reduce reliance on imports but also   scheme.                       tial to bridging supply gaps without   for e-waste, ensuring consistent
            strengthen supply chains for sectors   This recycling-led push is part of   relying solely on primary mining.  feedstock supply and developing
            such as electric mobility, renewable   a wider policy framework aimed at   Urban  mining,  particularly  cost-effective technologies will be
            energy and advanced manufacturing.  building  a  resilient  and  self-reliant   through the recycling of e-waste and   critical to the success of the initiative.
                According to the ministry, the   critical minerals ecosystem. At a re-  end-of-life batteries, is also gaining   Regulatory coordination and timely
            response from industry has been   cent high-level workshop titled “De-  prominence. Supported by govern-  disbursal of incentives will also play
            robust. Applications submitted be-  veloping the Critical Minerals Value   ment incentives, this approach en-  a key role in maintaining investor
            tween October 2025 and April 2026   Chain for a Sustainable Future,” pol-  ables the recovery of valuable ma-  confidence.
            were evaluated by the Project Man-  icymakers and industry leaders out-  terials from discarded electronics   Despite  these  hurdles,  the  mo-
            agement Agency, Jawaharlal Nehru   lined the contours of this strategy.  and energy storage systems, turning   mentum appears strong. The consen-
            Aluminium Research Development        Speaking at the event, Mines   waste into a strategic resource.  sus emerging from the workshop and
            and Design Centre, in line with de-  Secretary Piyush Goyal emphasised   Industry participants and experts   the response to the incentive scheme
            tailed operational guidelines.    the importance of private sector par-  pointed to the need for scaling up   indicate that India is moving toward
                Following this process, the Exec-  ticipation. He highlighted the gov-  such initiatives through technology   a more integrated and forward-look-
            utive Committee cleared 58 entities   ernment’s focus on reforms, ease of   and policy support. Representatives   ing critical minerals strategy.
            in two phases—20 in March and 38   doing business and targeted incen-  from leading companies and glob-   As the next phase of project ex-
            in late April. Together, these compa-  tives to accelerate sectoral growth.  al institutions, including the World   ecution begins, the focus will shift to
            nies have pledged a recycling capacity   Officials  underscored  that  criti-  Bank, highlighted the importance of   on-ground implementation. If suc-
            of about 850 kilo tonnes per annum   cal minerals are central to India’s en-  commercial viability, technological   cessful, the initiative could position
            (KTPA) and an investment of rough-  ergy transition, economic growth and   readiness and regulatory clarity in   India as a key player in the global
            ly  Rs  5,000  crore,  signalling  strong   technological advancement, calling   driving investments.  circular economy for critical miner-
            industry  confidence  in  the  sector.  for coordinated efforts across explo-  The discussions also focused on   als—turning waste into wealth while
                The selected firms span battery   ration, processing and recycling.  bridging the gap between laboratory   securing the building blocks of its en-
            recycling,  e-waste  processing  and   A key theme emerging from the   research and industrial-scale deploy-  ergy and industrial future.

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