The Indian agenda has been distinct, adopting both outward as well as inward-looking routes to achieve its strategic plan of developing supply chain sustainability by subsequently reducing reliance on China for REEs, and boosting its supply reserves to support Indian industries heavily reliant on REEs.

For the outward looking route, India has been expanding its ties with other nations, using its technical and diplomatic expertise to explore and mine minerals there. For the inward-looking route, New Delhi has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025, establishing a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector, with a total outlay of Rs. 34,300 crore over seven years (FY 2024-25 to 2030-31).

About 47 percent of the committed budget is expected to come from the government, while the rest from investment from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and stakeholders. Under this mission, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been tasked with conducting 1,200 exploration projects from 2024-25 to 2030-31.

With this policy initiative, India’s entry into global resource geopolitics has become noteworthy in many aspects. First, India has a significant amount of REEs: approximately 7.23 million tonnes of rare earth elements oxide (REO) are found across the landmass. Second, India has taken a significant step towards self-reliance by making a paradigm shift from being an extractor to a processor of REEs. It has also adopted an aggressive capacity expansion strategy with the establishment of Rare Earth Theme Park for pilot plants and demonstration facilities across the value chain, fostering entrepreneurship and skills development. For its processing capacity and mineral handling infrastructure, and commercializing lab-scale technologies, the parks have been established in the Indian states of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.

Third, India recently approved a "first-of-its-kind" scheme to boost manufacturing of sintered rare earth permanent magnets (REPMs), with a financial outlay of ₹7,280 crore. Fourth, the country's REE policy underpins its fast-growing EV mission and green energy goals by securing clean technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. In this respect, the NCMM helps ensure long-term availability and processing of these minerals.

Fifth, India's REEs policy stands out as it is informed by an approach to ensure self-reliance in the entire supply chain, focusing on building a complete domestic value chain (mining to magnets) under the "Make in India" vision. It is diversifying from upstream extraction to high-value downstream products like permanent magnets for EVs and defense, thus focusing on the full value chain.

Sixth, India has adopted a mixed approach, with public sector dominance in mining and private incentives for advanced processing, targeting self-sufficiency in components such as NdFeB magnets through the above-mentioned scheme.

Finally, India’s outward-looking role is being operationalized via the Ministry of Mines’ Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL). Established as a joint venture company with the objective of identifying and acquiring overseas mineral assets like Lithium, Cobalt, and others. Exploration and Development Agreement has already been signed with Argentina. The mineral exploration expands not just to South America, but also to Australia, East Asia, and Africa. Many African nations, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte D'Ivoire, form the core of India’s REE diplomacy. India has acquired a role not just as the extractor of resources, but also acting as a development partner, focusing on value addition to local economies and employment generation, paving the way for an equitable partnership.

REE is a fulcrum to India’s future sustainable growth progression. Acquiring REEs provides India with multi-pronged benefits: Ranging from achieving SDGs goals, clean energy, and climate targets, and making technological advancements. It is important for clean energy initiatives and successive decarbonisation as REEs are core to renewable energies like wind and solar energy, as well as EV vehicles.

With rising per capita income, expanding need for mobility and communication, and resulting need for expansion of the digital economy and manufacturing sector, REEs feed directly into the production of gadgets, electric and autonomous vehicles, drones, and other new transportation. Moreover, domestic capacity building in REE supply chain from production to processing stands to boost India’s national security by strengthening its geopolitical standing.