Critical Minerals are playing a vital role in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

• Critical minerals (e.g., lithium, cobalt, REEs, graphite, tungsten) are inputs essential to clean energy, EVs, defence, and semiconductors; supply concentration in a few countries makes them a strategic vulnerability.
• India has notified 30 critical minerals (2023) and runs sequential e-auctions of critical & strategic mineral blocks under the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2023.
• Why it matters for UPSC: intersects GS-III (economy, energy security), GS-II (international relations — MSP, KABIL deals), and current affairs (NCMM, auction tranches).