The government is actively engaged with the private sector to set up the required infrastructure for recycling and managing of e-waste to help recover critical minerals, said government officials on Friday.
A part of this initiative is the rolling out of a ₹1,500-crore incentive scheme for critical minerals’ recycling, which was approved by the Centre last month.
Included in the National Critical Mineral Mission, the scheme aims to provide a prudent way to ensure supply chain sustainability of rare earth minerals in the near term. The Ministry of Mines also issued detailed guidelines regarding the scheme early this month, after undertaking stakeholder consultations.
“The application process for the Incentive Scheme has started, having been rolled out on October 2, 2025, itself,” the Mines Ministry said, adding that stakeholders have appreciated the fast roll-out of the scheme.
Also Read: Focused on improving rare earth supply chain: Goyal
Eligible feedstock under it are e-waste, spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and other scrap such as catalytic converters in end-of-life vehicles.
The scheme, said the ministry, will help in enhancing capacity in recycling using processes like hydrometallurgy.
Proven technologies for end-to-end recycling are constantly being churned out by premier institutes like IITs, CSIR and other R&D laboratories, which develop and demonstrate indigenous capabilities in metal extraction, recycling and purification.
Some of these institutes are also imparting training in mineral processing, beneficiation and extractive metallurgy. Any skill requirement under the scheme can also be met through necessary institutional tie-up by the beneficiaries.
Follow us
