India To Build Rare Earth Stockpile Amid China Export Curbs: Report

India is set to launch a National Critical Mineral Stockpile (NCMS) to secure rare earth elements, crucial for green technologies, following China’s export restrictions, reported The Times Of India.

The programme aims to create a two-month reserve and encourage participation from private players, officials told TOI.

Rare earth elements, a group of 17 chemically similar elements, are vital for producing advanced technology applications, particularly rare earth magnets, which power electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other clean technologies.

The initiative complements an earlier inter-ministerial approval of a Rs 7,300 crore incentive scheme to boost domestic rare earth magnet production, targeting 10,000 tonnes over the next five years.

Under the National Critical Minerals Mission, the government has also allocated Rs 500 crore to ensure supply continuity and secure minerals for domestic use.

Industry experts pointed out that China continues to restrict rare earth magnet exports, despite initial signs of easing, while US President Donald Trump has threatened a further 100 per cent tariff on Chinese imports in response to these limitations.

India holds an estimated 7.23 million tonnes of rare earth oxide within 13.15 million tonnes of monazite, spread across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The Mines Ministry has completed five auction rounds for 55 critical mineral blocks, successfully allocating 34, and launched the sixth round last month to auction additional blocks.

This strategic stockpile aims to safeguard India’s supply chain, strengthen domestic production, and reduce dependency on imports amid growing global competition for rare earth resources.

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