Sovereign defense and automotive electrification demand complete domestic chemical separation, refining, and permanent magnet fabrication.
India possesses approximately eight point five million metric tons of rare earth resources, including significant monazite coastal sands and newly identified deposits in Purulia, West Bengal. However, domestic refining remains limited, forcing India to import over fifty-three thousand tons of rare earth permanent magnets annually, more than ninety percent from China.
Ten-year milestone: domestic chemical separation processes deployed commercially; indigenous rare earth permanent magnets powering domestic electric vehicles and defense systems within five years.
| Critical mineral stage | Current domestic status | Ten-year sovereign target |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral resource extraction | 8.5 million tons identified | Commercial mining active across Purulia and coastal belts |
| Heavy rare earth separation | Exported as crude salts | Domestic solvent extraction and chemical separation capacity |
| Neodymium magnet manufacturing | Over 90 percent imported | 100 percent domestic manufacturing for defense and EVs |