The Government of India has designated seven leading academic institutions—including four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)—as Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Mineral Mission. The decision was approved by the Project Approval and Advisory Committee on Saturday.
These newly established centres will focus on high-impact research and technological advancements in the field of critical minerals—materials essential for clean energy systems, electric mobility, advanced electronics, defence, and space applications. The institutes selected include IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, and IIT Roorkee, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Mines.
Each Centre of Excellence will operate under a hub-and-spoke model, facilitating collaboration across institutions and consolidating domain expertise to advance research, innovation, and knowledge-sharing in this strategically important area. The selection process involved a nationwide call for proposals from eligible institutions, followed by a rigorous two-stage evaluation to identify top-tier candidates based on research capability, infrastructure, and relevance to national priorities.
The National Critical Mineral Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this year, is a flagship initiative aimed at building self-sufficiency in the critical minerals sector. Covering the implementation period from 2024–25 to 2030–31, the mission seeks to expand domestic exploration and production, reduce reliance on imports, and encourage sustainable sourcing practices. This step marks a major milestone in the government’s strategy to secure long-term access to key resources vital for India’s technological and economic future.
