A recent report and exploration assessment by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has highlighted the immense untapped reserves of critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) across the North-Eastern states of India. According to the findings, the region may hold over 70 million tonnes of strategic mineral resources capable of supporting India’s ambitions in:
The report indicates that states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur possess substantial deposits of:
The discoveries assume major geopolitical and economic significance because critical minerals are increasingly becoming the backbone of the global green technology economy.
The North-East is no longer viewed merely as a hydrocarbon-rich frontier region but as a potential critical mineral hub.The report underlines that the region’s mineral resources can support:
Currently:
In this context, India’s domestic critical mineral discoveries can reduce strategic dependence on imports and strengthen the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.The article also highlights that the discoveries may provide India a strategic counterweight in the global mineral supply chain architecture.
Arunachal Pradesh has emerged as one of India’s most promising critical mineral regions.
The state possesses around 24.8 million tonnes of natural flake graphite.
Graphite is essential for:
The report notes that these graphite deposits are of high quality and suitable for battery-grade applications.
The GSI identified approximately 13.8 million tonnes of vanadium reserves in Arunachal Pradesh.
Vanadium is important for:
VRFB technology is increasingly viewed as an important solution for large-scale renewable energy storage.
In the Lodoso region near Pakke Tiger Reserve, GSI delineated nearly 2.2 million tonnes of REEs, including significant concentrations of Neodymium.
Neodymium is crucial for manufacturing:
The report also identified REE anomalies across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya.
GSI flagged possible lithium brine prospects in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland.
Lithium brine refers to saline underground water containing dissolved lithium salts from which lithium can be extracted.This is strategically important because global lithium production is currently concentrated in the:
The North-East discoveries may strengthen India’s long-term battery manufacturing ecosystem.
The Jashora Alkaline Complex in Karbi Anglong district of Assam has emerged as a major REE-rich zone.The region reportedly contains around 28.6 million tonnes of REEs.The deposits are important for:
The Sung Valley region in Meghalaya contains an ultramafic-alkaline-carbonatite complex with potential for laterite-hosted REE extraction.The region also shows promise for:
The article highlights the possibility of dual-commodity extraction, where both industrial and strategic minerals can be extracted from the same resource base.
Nickel and cobalt resources have been identified within the ophiolite belts of Nagaland and Manipur.
Ophiolite belts are portions of ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle rocks exposed on land due to tectonic processes.These regions are important because they commonly host:
Nickel and cobalt are critical for:
The Mollen-Washello area in Nagaland’s Phek district was identified as a highly promising exploration zone.
Despite the enormous potential, several challenges remain:
The North-East is:
Large-scale mining could create:
The region continues to face:
The article notes concerns raised by experts regarding:
Professor Dhiraj Banerjee of Delhi University noted that extraction and beneficiation may become economically expensive compared to imports in certain cases.
The discoveries could reshape India’s:
The North-East may evolve into a strategic resource corridor connecting India’s clean-energy ambitions with global supply chains.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1851 |
| Headquarters | Kolkata |
| Ministry | Ministry of Mines |
| Present Designation of Head | Director General, GSI |
| Major Functions | Geological mapping, mineral exploration, geoscientific investigations, natural hazard studies |
REEs are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements used in:
Examples include:
| Mineral | Major Uses |
|---|---|
| Lithium | Batteries, EVs, alloys |
| Vanadium | Steel alloys, VRFB batteries |
| Graphite | Battery anodes, lubricants |
| Neodymium | Permanent magnets |
| Cobalt | Battery supply chain |
| Nickel | Advanced batteries, aerospace |
| Cerium | Catalytic converters, polishing glass |
| Yttrium | Lasers, nuclear reactor components |
| Publication | Agency |
|---|---|
| Geological Potential of North East India | Geological Survey of India (GSI) |
Ophiolites are sections of:
that become exposed on land due to tectonic plate movements.They are important because they often host:
Updated – 19 September 2025 ; 12:00 AM IST | TOI