NITI Aayog and TEXMiN, a technology translation research park at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, have signed a Joint Statement of Intent to cooperate on critical and strategic minerals.
TEXMiN is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology. The statement aims to advance indigenous technology, research and innovation and develop resilient critical mineral value chains, aligned with the National Critical Mineral Mission.
At the symposium
It was signed during NITI Aayog member Gobardhan Das's visit to Dhanbad, where he inaugurated the National Symposium on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (CMRE 2026) on 31 October. He said critical minerals are strategic enablers of national security and technological self-reliance, and called for moving beyond a mine-centric approach to an integrated chain covering exploration, processing, refining, advanced materials and recycling.
He also pointed to recovering critical minerals from secondary sources such as coal fly ash, red mud, mine tailings and electronic waste. The release gives no funding figures.
Photos
Source: official release by the NITI Aayog, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (03 NOV 2026 5:50PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: NITI Aayog and TEXMiN Sign Joint Statement of Intent to Strengthen India’s Critical Minerals Ecosystem.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2332152) issued by the NITI Aayog on 03 NOV 2026 5:50PM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.NITI Aayog and TEXMiN Sign Joint Statement of Intent to Strengthen India’s Critical Minerals Ecosystem — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
