New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) Union Minister for Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Sunday arrived in the US to participate in the ‘Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting’, scheduled to be held on Monday (US time).

In a post on social media platform X, Vaishnaw said that “secure critical mineral supply chains are vital for our goal of Viksit Bharat.”

“Arrived in Washington, D.C. Will participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting tomorrow. Secure critical mineral supply chains are vital for our goal of Viksit Bharat,” he posted.

The Indian government has recently announced a scheme to promote the manufacturing of sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM), which aims to enhance India’s participation in global advanced-materials value chains while reducing import dependence.

The scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 7,280 crore also aims to enable long-term industrial growth by establishing 6,000 metric tonnes per annum of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity covering the full chain from rare‑earth oxides to finished magnets, according to an official statement issued recently.

The scheme is designed to enhance competitiveness, attract technology‑driven investment and support long‑term scalability while contributing to energy‑transition goals and India’s Net Zero 2070 vision, it added. By establishing domestic capability and strengthening downstream linkages, this Government’s initiative will help generate employment, deepen industrial capacity and support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The scheme will distribute a total of 6,000 MTPA of domestic manufacturing capacity across five beneficiaries through global competitive bidding, with each eligible for up to 1,200 MTPA.

It includes Rs 6,450 crore as sales‑linked incentives over five years and a Rs 750 crore capital subsidy, and will be implemented over seven years with a two‑year gestation period followed by five years of incentive disbursement, the government said.

The Ministry of Mines has entered into bilateral agreements with mineral-rich countries, including Australia, Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

India also participates in multilateral platforms such as the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to build resilient critical minerals supply chains.

–IANS

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