The National Critical Mineral Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet, will encompass all stages of the value chain, including mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products, which is critical for AI development.
India AI: China’s AI startup DeepSeek is making waves globally, causing concern in the U.S. Meanwhile, India is stepping up with the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission, aiming to secure essential resources for semiconductors and advanced technology. The government plans to invest Rs 34,300 crore ($4 billion) over six years to strengthen its AI and tech ambitions.
Mission under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative
The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of Rs.16,300 crore and expected investment of Rs 18,000 crore by PSUs, etc.
As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, and recognizing the indispensable role of critical minerals in high-tech industries, clean energy, and defense, the Government of India has undertaken several initiatives over the past two years to address challenges in the critical minerals sector.
National Critical Mineral Mission gets approval
The National Critical Mineral Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet, will encompass all stages of the value chain, including mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products. The mission will intensify the exploration of critical minerals within the country and in its offshore areas.
The mission aims to create a fast track regulatory approval process for critical mineral mining projects. Additionally, the mission will offer financial incentives for critical mineral exploration and promote the recovery of these minerals from overburden and tailings.
IndiaAI and Microsoft join hands to harness Artificial Intelligence’s potential
IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division (IBD) under the Digital India Corporation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to drive the adoption and development of artificial intelligence (AI) in India. This strategic partnership is aligned with the core objectives of India AI Mission.
Key highlights of the Microsoft collaboration:
- Microsoft, in partnership with IndiaAI, will skill 500,000 individuals, including students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs, by 2026.
- Establish “AI Catalysts,” a Center of Excellence, to promote rural AI innovation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and equip 100,000 AI innovators and developers through hackathons, community building, and an AI marketplace.
- Set up AI Productivity Labs in 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs)/NIELIT centers across 10 states to train 20,000 educators and empower 100,000 students with foundational AI courses in 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
- Focus on developing AI-enabled solutions for critical sectors, leveraging Microsoft Research (MSR)’s expertise.