The Ministry of Mines has launched a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme under the National Critical Mineral Mission to scale up recycling of critical minerals from e-waste and spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The scheme—approved by the Union Cabinet on 3 September 2025 and notified on 2 October 2025—aims to build secure domestic supply chains for minerals required in EVs, electronics, and clean energy.
India generates 1.75 million tonnes of e-waste and ~60 kilo-tonnes of spent LIBs annually, creating a strong base for recovering lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths. Incentives are capped at ₹50 crore for large recyclers and ₹25 crore for smaller units, prioritising end-to-end processing that includes metal recovery, not just black-mass production.
This advances Make in India, Circular Economy goals, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks — reducing import dependence, improving resource efficiency, and formalising recycling supply chains for green-industry growth.
What is the National Critical Mineral Mission? → A government mission to strengthen exploration, processing, and recycling of strategic minerals crucial for India’s clean-energy transition, defence manufacturing, and technology security — lowering exposure to global supply risks.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
Will India’s waste-collection systems and downstream refining capacity scale fast enough to unlock the full value of recovered minerals?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2182108
