NITI Aayog and TEXMiN at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad sign a Statement of Intent on critical minerals

3 November 2026

NITI Aayog has signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) with TEXMiN to work together in the critical and strategic minerals sector. TEXMiN, the Technology Translation Research Park, is based at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The partnership is meant to support the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). Four fields are named: shared research and new technology, technical and strategic studies, support on policy and institutions, and training with knowledge exchange. The SoI was signed during a visit to Dhanbad by NITI Aayog Member Prof. Gobardhan Das. On that visit, on 31 October, he had opened the National Symposium on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (CMRE 2026). He also spoke of recovering minerals from coal fly ash, red mud, mine tailings and electronic waste.