NITI Aayog and TEXMiN Sign Critical Minerals Pact

NITI Aayog and TEXMiN, the Technology Translation Research Park at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, have signed a Joint Statement of Intent to work together in the critical and strategic minerals sector. TEXMiN is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology. The collaboration is meant to advance indigenous technological capability, promote research and innovation, and support resilient and sustainable value chains for critical minerals in the country. It is aligned with the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and with the goal of an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

Four areas of cooperation

• Collaborative research and technology development
• Technical and strategic studies
• Policy and institutional support
• Capacity building and knowledge exchange

Taken together, these are expected to strengthen home-grown capability, help carry research through to working technology, and build firmer links between government, academia, research institutions and industry.

Signed at a Dhanbad symposium

The document was signed during a visit by Prof. Gobardhan Das, Member of NITI Aayog, to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. There he inaugurated the National Symposium on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (CMRE 2026) on 31 October 2026, held as part of the 45th Annual National Conference of the Indian Council of Chemists. The symposium drew policymakers, researchers, technology developers and industry representatives to discuss how the country's critical minerals and rare earths ecosystem can be strengthened.

Beyond a mine-centric approach

Speaking at the symposium, Prof. Das described critical minerals as strategic enablers of national security, technological self-reliance and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Drawing on the country's long metallurgical tradition, he argued for building indigenous capability through research, innovation and work with industry. His central point was that the sector must move beyond a mine-centric approach to an integrated value chain that covers exploration, processing, refining, advanced materials and recycling.

He also pointed to the scope for recovering critical minerals from secondary resources, naming coal fly ash, red mud, mine tailings and electronic waste as sources that are presently treated as discards. Translating laboratory research into commercially viable technology, and using resources sustainably, were held up as the tests of success. The initiative is expected to help the country build resilient supply chains for critical minerals and move further towards technological self-reliance.