Govt Declares IISc Bengaluru as 'Centre of Excellence' to Boost Critical Minerals Mission

IN NEWS

Govt Declares IISc Bengaluru as 'Centre of Excellence' to Boost Critical Minerals Mission

The Government of India has declared the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru as a ‘Centre of Excellence (CoE)’ to accelerate the country’s Critical Minerals Mission through indigenous research and development.
The CoE will establish an Integrated Critical Minerals Research and Development Facility focused on the entire value chain — exploration, extraction, refining, and recycling.
The move aligns with India’s goal to achieve mineral self-reliance and reduce dependence on foreign sources for strategic minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements (REEs), and graphite — crucial for clean energy technologies, semiconductors, and defense applications.
The CoE aims to foster collaboration between academia, PSUs, and private industries to strengthen domestic capabilities in advanced material science, sustainable mining, and circular economy models.
This initiative complements the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) launched under the Ministry of Mines, positioning India as a global hub for mineral innovation and technology-driven mining.

Critical Minerals Mission (CMM):
- Aims to secure the supply chain of 30+ minerals vital for renewable energy, electric mobility, defense manufacturing, and semiconductors.
- Includes minerals like Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, Tungsten, Titanium, and REEs.
- Focuses on domestic exploration, strategic global partnerships, and recycling technologies.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru:
- Established in 1909, it is India’s premier research institution in science, engineering, and technology innovation.
- Recognized globally for its work in materials research, nanotechnology, and energy sciences.

Updated – 01 Nov 2025 ; 08:51 AM | News Source – Deccan Herald