Nagpur, 30 Aug

(HS): The Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University’s Geology Department has

been recognised as a Central Research Centre under the National Critical Mineral

Mission (NCMM) in association with the Centre of Excellence at IIT Mumbai,

which was inaugurated at the hands of Kantha Rao, Secretary, Mining Department, on August 23.

The critical

minerals are important for the nation’s economic, technical and security development.

The problems in their supply chain affect the development. The NCMM, therefore,

has decided to open research centres on these minerals in Maharashtra.

Lithium, Cobalt,

Nickel, and Graphite are required in the manufacture of batteries. Electronic and

higher technology works require Rare Earth Minerals like Neodymium, Dysprosium,

Yttrium, Gallium and Germanium. Sustainable energy needs Copper and Platinum Group

metals. The Security and Aerospace field needs Tungsten, Titanium and Beryllium, etc.

The ambitious

NCMM was announced by the Government of India in January 2025 and earmarked Rs

34,300 crore in the budget for the next seven years. The mission was initiated

as India should not be dependent on the import of these minerals, and become ‘Atmanirbhar

Bharat’.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar