Strategic Summary
India is advancing aggressively toward rare earth autonomy. Prime Minister Modi has unveiled a National Critical Mineral Mission to drive domestic exploration, processing, and magnet production. In parallel, Beijing’s continued chokehold—manifested in unresolved export delays—persists, even as India strategically pivots through new subsidies and institutional focus.
Key Points
India Launches National Critical Mineral Mission
Prime Minister Modi has initiated a country-wide mission targeting rare earth exploration, domestic mining, and processing capacity to reduce dependency on China.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india/business-news/exploration-missions-to-be-conducted-pm-modi-addresses-rare-earths-shortages-in-india-pushes-for-self-reliance/articleshow/123520980.cms The Economic Times+1The Economic Times+3The Times of India+3The Times of India+3
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/india/pm-modi-hails-make-in-india-shares-how-govt-is-addressing-rare-earth-shortage-issue-critical-minerals-mission-gujarat/articleshow/123519882.cms The Economic TimesIndia Council Finalizes ₹3,500–5,000 Cr Rare Earth Incentives
A scheme aiming to bolster rare earth and magnet production is nearing cabinet approval, offering significant financial backing to build processing and manufacturing capability.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/rare-earths-set-to-get-up-to-rs-5000-crore-incentive-scheme/articleshow/121960810.cms Wikipedia+8IndraStra Global+8The Economic Times+8Reuters+15The Economic Times+15Chemical & Engineering News+15The Times of India+5The Economic Times+5The Economic Times+5India Calls Halt to Rare Earth Exports Amid Shortages
To prioritize domestic demand, India has directed its state mineral company IREL to pause rare-earth exports to Japan—a sign of growing supply chain assertiveness.
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-moves-conserve-its-rare-earths-seeks-halt-japan-exports-sources-say-2025-06-13/ CSIS+12Reuters+12The Economic Times+12
Why It Matters
Strategic Autonomy Building
India is transforming its critical mineral narrative from dependency to self-reliance through structured policy interventions and significant capital offers.Supply Chain Resilience Takes Priority
Halting exports to allies underscores the severity of India’s near-term shortages and its willingness to prioritize domestic industrial and defense needs.Policy Trajectory Accelerates Amid Global Shifts
With U.S., Australia, and now India mobilizing industrial strategies, rare earths have become central to a new global order defined by sovereignty, not just markets.
Watchlist Companies & Entities
Ministry of Heavy Industries & PMO (India) — Leading the National Critical Mineral Mission and rare earth incentive rollout.
(See article links above)Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL) — State miner shifting toward domestic first-use strategy and scaling processing capabilities.
(See Reuters link above)
Critical Minerals Spotlight
Neodymium & Praseodymium (NdPr) — Key rare earths for magnets that power EVs and defense systems; central to India’s incentivized processing push.
Action Points
Monitor mission rollout and fund channeling by the Indian government to mining and processing firms.
Track incentives implementation and project launches in processing and magnet manufacturing in India.
Assess geopolitical flow-on effects in Asia and beyond as India shifts from importer to developer of critical minerals.
This briefing is for informational purposes only and is not legal, investment, or policy advice. Information is believed accurate at time of publication. Sources are publicly available.