By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed officials to begin exploring rare earth reserves in the state in line with the Centre’s critical minerals policy framework, signalling Assam’s growing focus on strategic mineral development and Industry 4.0 sectors.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Mines and Minerals Department on Saturday, the Chief Minister said Assam possesses known reserves of rare earth and other strategic minerals considered vital for advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies and next-generation industrial systems.
“Assam has known reserves of rare earth and other key minerals essential to Industry 4.0. I have asked my officials to begin exploration work in sync with Government of India policies,” Sarma said in a social media post after the meeting.
He further stated that ongoing mineral exploration activities in the state had already attracted major investment interest.
“We also reviewed the ongoing exploration of other minerals, some of which have already led to investment commitments of over Rs 50,000 crore,” he added.
At the same time, the Chief Minister stressed the need for environmentally sustainable mining practices.
“I have also emphasised that all mining operations must be carried out sustainably within the existing green framework,” Sarma said.
The move aligns with the Centre’s broader push to strengthen India’s domestic critical minerals ecosystem and reduce dependence on imports of strategic resources.
The emphasis on critical minerals was also reflected in the Union Budget 2026, where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed customs duty exemptions on capital goods used for processing critical minerals to encourage domestic value addition and industrial capacity building.
The issue had also featured prominently during the second North East Mining Ministers’ Conclave held in June 2025, where Sarma highlighted Assam’s expanding mining ambitions.
During the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, the state signed 14 MoUs involving investment commitments exceeding Rs 46,000 crore from domestic and international investors.
The renewed focus on rare earth and critical mineral exploration also comes under the Centre’s National Critical Mineral Mission launched in 2025, aimed at securing domestic supply chains for sectors such as semiconductors, renewable energy, defence manufacturing, electronics and electric mobility.
Under the mission, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been tasked with carrying out 1,200 exploration projects across the country between 2024-25 and 2030-31 to identify critical mineral reserves.