Decoding Strategic Minerals

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic substance, characterized by a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties. These minerals are procured through mining and are further processed to meet specific requirements.

Certain minerals acquire a special status due to factors like limited supply, control mechanisms, cost implications, and strategic utility. Strategic Minerals, in particular, are integral to the defense industry and other strategic sectors like energy, nuclear, and space.

Strategic Minerals, also known as Critical Minerals, is a broad term encompassing various minerals and elements.

Critical minerals are important for the overall well-being of the state, whereas strategic minerals are indispensable for the defense and strategic framework of the state.

Strategic minerals, with their primary focus on military applications, are defined as those needed to fulfill the military, industrial, and essential requirements of a country during a crisis and are not found or produced in sufficient quantities domestically.

The Significance of Strategic Minerals

For a country like India, a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals is vital for its defense, security, and transition towards a more advanced, fossil-fuel independent economy. Energy, communications, space, and nuclear industries are heavily dependent on various critical minerals and rare earth elements .

However, the real challenge lies in excavation, processing, research, and investments. The strategic mineral sector and the mining sector are anticipated to face difficulties in meeting the growing demand in critical sectors in the future. Import dependency for strategic minerals is one of the most conspicuous challenges.

India and its Strategic Minerals

In India, 10 minerals are identified as strategic minerals due to their limited availability:

1. Sulphur
2. Lead
3. Crude Oil
4. Zinc
5. Mercury
6. Platinum
7. Nickel
8. Graphite
9. Tin
10. Ferro-tungsten

It's important to understand that the defense industry constitutes only a part of the strategic industry. A thin line differentiates a military industry from a civilian industry in some sectors.

For a detailed understanding of how Strategic Minerals feature in the National Mineral Policy of India , you can visit the linked article.

Challenges faced by India in the Strategic Minerals Sector

The strategic mineral sector is expected to face similar challenges as the entire mining sector. Import dependency is one of the most apparent challenges.

Additionally, India faces various challenges such as the high cost of land acquisition and occasional local resistance to it.

Open-cast or open pit mining is a method where mineral extraction is done near the earth's surface, creating large open pits. Even though it is cost-effective, it has its own set of challenges.

It's crucial to understand that enhancing strategic minerals production would require the support of private industry.

India possesses almost 35 per cent of the world’s total beach sand mineral deposits. These deposits are important due to their unique electronic, optical, and magnetic characteristics, unmatched by any other metal or synthetic substitute.

For more UPSC Notes on Science and Technology , you can visit the linked article.

Conclusion

The strategic industry in India is growing, and the demand for strategic minerals is projected to increase. India has already identified a few minerals as strategic. However, there is a need for a systemic risk analysis to understand the present and future needs.

India is a mineral-rich country and generally, availability is not a problem. But the real challenge lies in excavation and processing. Major investments are needed in this area. However, policies like the one for Beach Sand Minerals (BSM), announced in August 2018, lack industry focus. China is the global leader in the Rare Earth Element (REE) sector, holding around 95% of the global deposits, and this Chinese monopoly is increasingly being recognized worldwide.

The role of the private sector in mining and the minerals sector is expected to increase in the future. There is a need to increase research in all relevant areas of technology, undertake research on recycling of minerals, and finding suitable substitutes.

As a way forward, it is important to develop an ecosystem involving government agencies, public sector undertakings, private industry, and educational organisations.

Aspirants can find complete information about upcoming Government Exams through the linked article. More exam-related preparation materials will be found through the links given below.

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