India gets recycling pledges thrice its target, eyes global critical minerals hub by 2030 | Mumbai News

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: In a major boost to India’s ambitions of securing supplies of critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, electronics, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, the Centre has received industry commitments for recycling capacity of 850 kilotonnes (KT) against an initial target of 270 KT, signalling robust private sector participation in a sector seen as crucial for reducing import dependence.The announcement was made by Union Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal at a conference on India’s critical minerals recycling landscape organised by the Mumbai-based Materials Recycling Association of India (MRAI) in Delhi on Monday.The development assumes significance for industrial states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, which are rapidly expanding their electric vehicle, electronics, battery and renewable energy ecosystems. Experts said the push could also help major urban centres such as Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi unlock value from growing volumes of electronic waste and discarded batteries.“Against the target of 270 kilotonnes, we have received commitments of 850 kilotonnes. This gives us confidence that India can emerge as a major hub for critical mineral recycling not only in Asia but globally by the next decade,” Goyal said.

Why it matters

Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earth elements, zirconium and titanium are essential for batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, semiconductors, defence equipment and digital technologies.India currently imports a significant share of these materials and remains exposed to global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical risks. Recycling is increasingly being viewed as a strategic solution to recover valuable minerals from e-waste, spent batteries, industrial scrap and end-of-life products while reducing environmental impacts.Industry experts said a stronger domestic recycling ecosystem could eventually help lower raw material vulnerabilities for Indian manufacturers and support the country’s clean energy transition.

Maharashtra among states to host processing parks

In a development with direct relevance to Maharashtra, the Mines Ministry announced support for establishing four Critical Minerals Processing Parks in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.Officials said recycling will form an integral component of these proposed facilities, potentially creating new investment opportunities and jobs while strengthening domestic supply chains.For Maharashtra, which hosts major automobile manufacturing clusters, electronics industries and one of the country’s largest concentrations of urban e-waste generation, the proposed infrastructure could enhance its position in emerging battery and clean technology value chains.

Exploration and mining push gathers pace

The Centre also indicated that India’s broader critical minerals mission is progressing faster than originally envisaged.According to Goyal, the Geological Survey of India has already completed 571 exploration projects, while another 300 projects are expected to be completed this year.Against the original target of 1,200 exploration projects by 2031, the government now expects the figure to exceed 2,000 projects, aided by increasing private sector participation.The government also auctioned a record 212 mineral blocks last year, while 36 mines, including 28 greenfield projects, were operationalised during 2025-26. Another 50 to 60 greenfield mines are expected to become operational this financial year.

Focus shifts to processing gap

While Indian companies have acquired overseas assets containing lithium, cobalt and other strategic minerals, much of the value addition continues to occur outside the country due to inadequate domestic processing infrastructure.Goyal said the government is close to finalising a dedicated scheme to build processing capabilities for battery minerals after multiple rounds of stakeholder consultations.Industry stakeholders have long argued that developing refining and processing facilities is essential if India wants to move beyond raw material sourcing and become a manufacturing hub for batteries, EVs and advanced technologies.

Urban mining gains prominence

The Centre is also betting on “urban mining” — the recovery of valuable minerals from discarded consumer products, appliances, batteries and electronic waste.Officials noted that large quantities of critical minerals remain locked within household and industrial waste streams.To improve recovery rates, the ministry is working on pilot projects for scientific collection systems and exploring viability-gap funding models. It is also planning a national digital platform that would connect recyclers, collection agencies and the informal sector to streamline material recovery.The recycling incentive scheme covers 27 critical minerals and links incentives to actual mineral recovery and processing rather than merely producing intermediate materials.The government estimates the programme will create at least 300,000 tonnes annually of e-waste recycling capacity by 2030, with scope for significantly higher capacity based on industry response.

Manufacturing ambitions

Speaking at the conference, Rajeev Kumar, chairman of Pahle India Foundation and former vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, said critical minerals would be central to India’s ambitions in electric mobility, semiconductors, renewable energy and artificial intelligence.He called for stronger coordination between the Centre, states and urban local bodies to create an integrated national framework for critical minerals and recycling.MRAI president Sanjay Mehta said India’s status as the world’s third-largest automobile market, its rapidly expanding battery manufacturing sector and growing electronics industry made recycling a strategic necessity.“Mining alone cannot meet future demand. Urban mines are becoming as important as natural mines. Every tonne recycled reduces import dependence, conserves natural resources, lowers emissions and strengthens domestic manufacturing,” he said.

What it means for consumers

For consumers, experts said a successful recycling ecosystem could eventually contribute to more secure supplies of battery materials, support India’s EV expansion plans, reduce dependence on imports and improve scientific disposal of electronic waste.For businesses, it promises access to domestic sources of critical raw materials. For governments, it offers a pathway to strengthen resource security while advancing climate and circular economy goals.With the Centre now receiving recycling commitments more than three times its original target, policymakers believe India is beginning to build a parallel resource economy where discarded electronics and batteries could increasingly serve as a strategic source of minerals powering the country’s next phase of industrial growth.

At a glance