Ashwini Vaishnaw Arrives in US for Critical Minerals Meet, Stresses Secure Supply Chains for Viksit Bharat

New Delhi, Jan 2026 : Union Minister for Railways and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has arrived in the United States to participate in the high-level Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to be held on Monday (US time). The visit underscores India’s growing focus on securing resilient and reliable critical mineral supply chains, which are essential for the country’s long-term economic and technological ambitions.

Sharing an update on social media platform X after landing in Washington, D.C., Vaishnaw highlighted the strategic importance of the meeting. “Arrived in Washington, D.C. Will participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting tomorrow. Secure critical mineral supply chains are vital for our goal of Viksit Bharat,” he posted, reiterating India’s commitment to strengthening its position in global mineral and advanced materials ecosystems.

The minister’s participation comes at a time when India is intensifying efforts to reduce its dependence on imports of critical minerals and associated components, particularly those required for clean energy, electronics, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing. Recently, the Government of India announced a major scheme aimed at promoting the domestic manufacturing of sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM), a key input for electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defence applications.

With a total financial outlay of ₹7,280 crore, the scheme seeks to establish an integrated manufacturing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes per annum for REPMs. The initiative will cover the entire value chain, ranging from rare earth oxides to finished magnets, thereby enhancing India’s participation in global advanced-materials value chains while significantly reducing import dependence. According to an official statement, the scheme is also intended to catalyse long-term industrial growth by building strong domestic capabilities in a strategically critical sector.

The programme includes ₹6,450 crore in sales-linked incentives to be disbursed over five years, along with a capital subsidy of ₹750 crore. Implementation is planned over a seven-year period, comprising a two-year gestation phase followed by five years of incentive disbursement. The 6,000 MTPA manufacturing capacity will be allocated across five beneficiaries through a global competitive bidding process, with each beneficiary eligible for up to 1,200 MTPA.

Beyond domestic initiatives, India has been actively engaging with mineral-rich nations to secure raw material supplies. The Ministry of Mines has signed bilateral agreements with countries such as Australia, Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. India is also a participant in multilateral frameworks including the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), aimed at building diversified, transparent and resilient critical mineral supply chains.

Through these combined domestic and international efforts, the government aims to boost employment, deepen industrial capacity, support the energy transition and advance India’s Net Zero 2070 vision, firmly aligning critical minerals strategy with the broader goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Team Maverick.