Perspective: India’s Rare Earth Strategy | 04 February, 2026

On the show today, we’re going to talk about India’s rare earth strategy. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu for mining, processing, research, and manufacturing of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs). For perspective, Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) are among the strongest types of permanent magnets, known for their high magnetic strength and stability. Their compact size and powerful performance make them indispensable for advanced engineering applications such as electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, consumer and industrial electronics, aerospace systems, defence equipment, and precision sensors. As India expands its manufacturing footprint in clean energy, advanced mobility, and strategic sectors, a reliable domestic supply of these Rare Earth Permanent Magnets is critical. The Union Budget strengthening domestic capacity, reducing import dependence, and positioning India as a global leader in advanced materials. It not only reduces import dependence but also strengthens India’s competitiveness in global value chains for advanced materials. India holds 13.15 million tonnes of monazite, containing an estimated 7.23 million tonnes of rare-earth oxides (REO). These deposits occur across Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, 1.29 million tonnes of in-situ REO resources have been identified in hard-rock areas. In addition, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has augmented reserves, identifying 482.6 million tonnes of rare-earth ore resources in 34 exploration projects. Together, these reserves demonstrate India’s strong raw material base to support the establishment of an integrated REPM manufacturing ecosystem. Back in November last year, the government had approved the Rare Earth Permanent Magnets scheme to provide financial support and incentives to build a fully integrated domestic manufacturing ecosystem. With an outlay of ₹7,280 crore, the objective of the scheme is to establish an end-to-end ecosystem from rare‑earth oxides to finished magnets, ensuring supply for sectors like electric mobility, renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, and defence. On the show today, we’ll talk about these recent policy measures and how they aim to strengthening domestic capacity, reducing import dependence, and positioning India as a global leader in advanced materials. Guests: 1. Dr. Nikhil N. Sirdesai, Assistant Professor, Department of Mining Engineering, VNIT, Nagpur. 2. Dr. Ashutosh Kainthola, Assistant Professor, Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Anchor: Teena Jha Producer: Sagheer Ahmad Guest Coordinator: Deepti Vashisht, Vinod Kumar Singh, Paras Kandpal Watch the other videos on our playlist:    • Perspective   Sansad Television is the Parliamentary channel of India. It was created in 2021 by merging Lok Sabha Television and Rajya Sabha Television. Follow us on: -Twitter:   / sansad_tv   -Insta:   / sansad.tv   -FB:   / sansadtelevision   -https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VanO... -WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VanO... -  / published   Visit Sansad TV website: https://sansadtv.nic.in/