critical minerals – The Mines Ministry on Friday recognized the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru as one of the Centers of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). NCMM was launched with a budget of ₹16,300 crore, and the mission aims to strengthen India’s self-reliance in critical minerals for clean energy, defense and advanced technology sectors. The newly established CoE at IISc will set up an integrated critical minerals research and development facility covering the entire value chain from exploration and extraction to processing and recycling.
It will design modular pilot-scale plants using indigenous process and equipment technologies to reduce import dependence and promote sustainable development. According to IISc, the CoE will also collaborate with industry partners through IISc’s Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) to translate research into scalable industrial solutions. Under this programme, IISc will lead a green lithium-ion battery recycling process, providing a sustainable alternative to the traditional black-mass route currently being exported due to inefficient recovery systems.
To support India’s green hydrogen and fuel cell mission, IISc will also recycle platinum group elements (PGE) from spent auto catalysts, targeting 90% recovery efficiency through high-throughput systems integrated with PGE separation and purification technologies. Given the instability in global supply chains, India’s dependence on imported rare earth and strategic minerals highlights the urgency of indigenous R&D. From toys to satellites, critical minerals are the foundation of modern manufacturing and innovation.
While India has built strong capabilities in semiconductors, digital infrastructure and mobility, continued progress depends on the development of core materials technologies at home. Omprakash Subbarao, CEO, FSID Core at IISc, said, “This milestone is a decisive step towards building India’s indigenous capabilities across the critical minerals value chain, from exploration to processing and recycling.
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