New Delhi, Feb 12 (UNI) Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said recent nuclear sector reforms, including measures under the Shanti Act, will “accelerate the development of Rare Earth Elements (REE)” in the country, as the government steps up efforts to strengthen domestic capacity in critical minerals.
Replying to a question during the Lok Sabha Question Hour, Dr. Singh said policy initiatives taken in recent years have opened up new opportunities in mining and processing of rare earth minerals, “including participation of the private sector in areas not containing uranium and thorium,” he said, adding that the move would strengthen India’s “strategic and industrial capabilities.”
The Minister was responding to a query raised by Nawada MP Shri Vivek Thakur, who pointed to the distinctive geological formations in Nawada and neighbouring districts such as Sheikhpura, Jamui, Nalanda, and Gaya, part of the Chotanagpur Plateau extension, known for granite and pegmatite rock structures. He also referred to mica deposits and associated minerals such as beryl, columbite-tantalite, and lithium, which are widely used in electric vehicle batteries and advanced electronics.
Dr. Singh informed the House that exploration activities are already underway in parts of Bihar, particularly in and around Koderma district. “The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) is conducting reconnaissance radiometric surveys and G4 stage geological mapping in the Nawada region,” he said. The current phase of exploration in the referred areas is expected to be completed “within five to six months, likely by September or October 2026.”
On the areas mentioned by the MP, including Sheikhpura, the Minister said, “studies to assess future possibilities can be undertaken.”
Highlighting the strategic importance of rare earth elements, Dr. Singh said their importance has grown significantly in view of their applications in “electric mobility, semiconductors, defence equipment, and emerging technologies.” He noted that in the union Budget this year, four dedicated rare earth corridors have been announced in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
He also pointed to customs duty concessions for the import of equipment required for nuclear power plants and reforms to expand the role of private players in rare earth mining, where uranium and thorium are not present.
Referring to downstream capacity, Dr. Singh said India’s first rare earth permanent magnet plant was commissioned in Visakhapatnam in 2023 “after a gap of several decades.” India’s current annual requirement of permanent magnets is around 4,000 tonnes, and “the Government has set a target of achieving production capacity of 5,000 tonnes by 2030,” he said, to ensure self-reliance and surplus capability.
Exploration is being carried out in both beach sand minerals and hard rock formations across multiple states. Coastal exploration is underway in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, while hard rock exploration is progressing in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as part of efforts to expand the national resource base in critical minerals.
