TEXMiN IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and NITI Aayog sign Joint Statement of Intent to strengthen critical minerals ecosystem

Dhanbad: TEXMiN (Technology Translation Research Park), an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, hosted at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and NITI Aayog, Government of India, have signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) on October 31, 2026, to strengthen India’s critical and strategic minerals ecosystem.

The strategic collaboration aims to promote joint research, data analytics, policy and technical advisory support, mineral resource mapping, knowledge generation and capacity building across the entire critical minerals value chain, covering exploration, processing, value addition and recycling.

The partnership will also focus on developing comprehensive databases, decision-support frameworks and technical studies to provide scientific and technical inputs to Central and State Governments for informed policy formulation and effective decision-making in the critical minerals sector.

The collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and support India’s vision of achieving self-reliance in critical and strategic minerals. It will facilitate stronger coordination between research institutions and policy-making bodies, while promoting technology-driven solutions and sustainable development of the country’s critical mineral resources.

This strategic initiative further reinforces IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s commitment to advancing research, innovation and technology translation in the mining and mineral sector, while contributing to India’s long-term mineral security and economic growth.