Which Mineral is Critically Deficient in India?

January 12, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the Indian Ministry of Mines and independent reports, India is critically dependent on imports for several key resources, most notably copper. This critical dependency extends to many minerals essential for modern technology and strategic sectors, posing significant challenges for the country's economic and technological ambitions.

Quick Summary

India faces significant import dependency for several critical resources due to limited domestic reserves and production. This includes industrial metals like copper, non-ferrous elements, rare earths, and crucial battery components like lithium and cobalt, impacting the nation's energy transition goals and technological development.

Key Points

Copper is critically deficient: India's domestic copper production cannot meet demand, leading to high import dependency.
Lithium and Cobalt are 100% imported: India relies entirely on foreign sources for these EV battery minerals.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a strategic vulnerability: Despite reserves, India produces little and depends heavily on China.
Agricultural minerals are also deficient: India lacks self-sufficiency in potash and rock phosphate, impacting food security.
Zinc deficiency affects soil and health: Widespread zinc deficiency in Indian soils reduces crop yields and contributes to human malnutrition.
Government is taking action: The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is working to boost domestic production, acquire foreign assets, and promote recycling.

India's Critical Mineral Landscape

India's economic and technological progress, driven by ambitious initiatives like the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), is heavily reliant on a stable supply of key minerals. However, an imbalance between domestic resources and industrial demand creates a critical dependency on foreign sources for many vital minerals. Understanding which mineral is critically deficient in India is essential for comprehending the nation's strategic vulnerabilities.

The Most Critically Deficient Industrial Metal: Copper

Among the industrial metals, copper stands out as a critically deficient mineral in India. Despite having copper reserves, the country's domestic production falls far short of its substantial demand. India is one of the world's largest importers of refined copper, relying on custom smelters that process imported copper concentrate. This dependency exposes the Indian economy to international market volatility and supply chain risks. Copper's ubiquitous use in infrastructure, electronics, and power generation makes this deficiency a significant strategic concern.

Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition

The push towards clean energy and electric vehicles (EVs) has brought new minerals into focus as critically deficient for India. These include key components for advanced battery technology.

Lithium: India has virtually no domestic production of lithium and is 100% import-dependent for this mineral, a cornerstone of lithium-ion batteries. While significant reserves have been discovered in Jammu and Kashmir, commercial mining is yet to commence, highlighting the long path from discovery to self-sufficiency.
Cobalt: Similar to lithium, India has 100% import dependency for cobalt, another vital component for EV batteries and high-performance alloys.
Nickel: With 100% import reliance, nickel is essential for various applications, including stainless steel production and battery technology.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs): Despite possessing about six percent of the world's reserves of REEs, India produces less than one percent. A state-owned entity has historically held a monopoly, and development of downstream processing industries is limited, leading to a heavy dependence on imports, primarily from China.

Agricultural and Other Sector Deficiencies

Beyond industrial and technological applications, certain minerals critical for agriculture also face severe deficits.

Potash (Potassium): Essential for crop growth, potash has an import dependency of 100% in India, impacting the country's food security. Long-term intensive cultivation with unbalanced fertilizer use has depleted soil potassium levels in many regions.
Phosphorous (Rock Phosphate): While some reserves exist, India is significantly deficient in rock phosphate, a primary source of agricultural fertilizer. The Ministry of Mines has included phosphate as a critical mineral for India.
Zinc in Soil: On a micro-level, soil analysis across India consistently reveals widespread zinc deficiency, impacting agricultural productivity. This necessitates targeted zinc fertilization strategies to improve crop yields and human nutritional health.

India's Mineral Self-Sufficiency: A Comparative Look

To illustrate the extent of India's import dependency, the Ministry of Mines periodically releases data on the country's self-sufficiency status. The following table provides a snapshot of the self-sufficiency levels for select minerals based on apparent consumption and domestic supply.


Mineral/Metal	Apparent Consumption ('000 tonnes)	Domestic Supply ('000 tonnes)	Order of Self-Sufficiency (%) (2021-22)
Bauxite	25,124	22,495	90
Chromite	4,028	3,785	94
Iron ore	234,000	254,000	100
Magnesite	618	113	18
Manganese ore	8,734	2,347	27
Rockphosphate	11,053	1,395	13
Copper (refined)	868	484	56

Source: Ministry of Mines, India

Strategic Responses to Mineral Deficiencies

India is actively addressing its mineral deficiencies through a multi-pronged approach, spearheaded by the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). The government's strategy focuses on domestic exploration and mining, foreign asset acquisition, recycling, and international cooperation. For more details, refer to the {Link: Ministry of Mines https://mines.gov.in/admin/storage/ckeditor/NCMM_1739251643.pdf} and {Link: Vision IAS https://visionias.in/current-affairs/monthly-magazine/2025-03-24/economics-(macroeconomics)/national-critical-mineral-mission-ncmm}.

The Impact of Deficiencies on India's Growth

Critical mineral deficiencies have significant implications for India. Supply chain issues and price fluctuations can affect industries, and reliance on certain nations for supply presents geopolitical risks. Agricultural shortages impact food security, while specific human deficiencies, such as zinc and copper, have public health consequences.

Conclusion

India possesses strong reserves of minerals like iron ore, manganese, and bauxite, yet it faces substantial deficits in others vital for its economy, strategic independence, and agriculture. Copper is a long-standing industrial deficit, while lithium, cobalt, nickel, and REEs are key shortages for the clean energy transition. The government, through initiatives like the NCMM, is addressing these issues. Securing a reliable supply of these critical minerals through investment, innovation, and diplomacy is crucial for India's future growth. More information on critical minerals can be found on the {Link: Ministry of Mines, India https://mines.gov.in/webportal/content/national-critical-mineral-mission}.

Frequently Asked Questions

India is most dependent on imports for several critical minerals, including copper, lithium, cobalt, and nickel, with 100% import dependency for lithium and nickel.

While India possesses copper reserves, domestic production is constrained by the resource base and insufficient compared to the country's industrial demand. The country's custom smelters largely depend on imported copper concentrate.

India's strategy involves the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), focusing on boosting domestic exploration and mining, acquiring overseas mineral assets through joint ventures, increasing recycling efforts, and diversifying supply chains through international partnerships.

India's 100% import dependency on lithium poses a significant risk to its energy transition and electric vehicle (EV) goals, making it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and price volatility.

Yes, Indian soils exhibit widespread deficiencies in micronutrients, most notably zinc. This deficiency severely impacts crop yields and overall agricultural productivity.

A range of minerals, including those used in nuclear and defense applications like Rare Earth Elements (REEs), are identified as critical for India's national security. The government has categorized 30 minerals as critical for India.

Despite having significant reserves, India lacks a developed value chain for REEs, especially in processing and downstream industries. This leads to a heavy reliance on imports, particularly from China, for these strategically important minerals.