Hyderabad is on its way to becoming a key player in global research for critical minerals. The Union Ministry of Mines has decided to set up seven new Centers of Excellence (CoEs) across India. Among these, two will be established in Telangana, thanks to efforts by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy.
This initiative is part of the National Critical Minerals Mission, which was introduced earlier this year with a budget of Rs 16,300 crore. An extra Rs 18,000 crore will come from public sector undertakings. The aim is to make India more self-reliant in critical sectors like clean energy, defense, electronics, and space exploration.
These new CoEs will focus on researching critical minerals, from finding and extracting them to using them effectively. Out of the seven centers, four will be at IITs—IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, and IIT Roorkee. The other three will be specialized R&D institutes, including CSIR-IMMT in Bhubaneswar, CSIR-NML in Jamshedpur, and NFTDC Hyderabad.
These institutions will work together to create advanced technologies, focusing on resource mapping, sustainable mining, and high-performance materials for modern uses. IIT Hyderabad and NFTDC in Hyderabad play a crucial role. IIT Hyderabad has already partnered with Coal India to create the Center of Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ), which aims to boost low-emission energy sources in India.
NFTDC is making strides in electronic material research under the Ministry of Mines. Its innovative work includes developing alternative magnets for energy-efficient devices and new magnetometry methods for physics, medical imaging, and navigation. The center is also focused on rare earth magnets needed for electric vehicle motors and future electronics.
To support these projects, the government will allocate Rs 500 crore for additional R&D and another Rs 500 crore for developing a world-class workforce. This funding will help train skilled scientists and engineers essential for India‘s critical mineral independence.
Kishan Reddy highlighted that these new centers position Telangana as a leader in strategic mineral research. This not only boosts regional development but also enhances India‘s global influence in cutting-edge technologies.
