National 05 November 2026
NITI Aayog Partners with TEXMiN to Strengthen India's Critical Minerals Ecosystem
Why in the News?
**NITI Aayog** and **TEXMiN** (Technology Innovation Hub at IIT ISM Dhanbad) signed a joint Statement of Intent (**SoI**) to strengthen India’s critical mineral ecosystem and enhance technological self-reliance.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Strategic Alignment:
- The collaboration aims to accelerate indigenous R&D, promote sustainable mineral value chains, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
- Aligns with the mandates of the **National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)** and the broader vision of *Aatmanirbhar* and *Viksit Bharat 2047*.
- Four Core Areas of Collaboration:
- **1. Research & Technology Development:** Focusing on advanced processing, refining, material science, and recycling.
- **2. Technical & Strategic Studies:** Analyzing global supply chain vulnerabilities and domestic capacity.
- **3. Policy & Institutional Support:** Fostering synergies among government, academia, research institutions, and private industry.
- **4. Capacity Building & Knowledge Exchange:** Skill development and technology translation.
- Focus on Secondary Resources:
- Signed during NITI Aayog Member **Gobardhan Das's** visit to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad for the National Symposium on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (CMRE 2026).
- Emphasized shifting from a purely mining-centric model toward an integrated value chain that includes recovering critical minerals from secondary sources like coal fly ash, red mud, mine tailings, and e-waste.
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Static GK Facts:
- NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India):
- Formed: **January 1, 2015** (Replaced Planning Commission) | Headquarters: **New Delhi**.
- Chairperson: **Prime Minister Narendra Modi**.
- Vice Chairperson: **Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri** (Assumed office May 2026).
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO): **Anurag Jain (IAS)** (Assumed office August 17, 2026).
- TEXMiN (Technology Innovation in Mining & Exploration):
- Center of Excellence located at **IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand**, funded under DST's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: NITI Aayog signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with which institute's TEXMiN hub to bolster India's critical minerals value chain?
A: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Q: Who is the current CEO of NITI Aayog (assumed charge in August 2026)?
A: Anurag Jain (IAS)
Q: Who serves as the current Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog?
A: Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri
#NITIAayog #TEXMiN #IITISMDhanbad #CriticalMinerals #NCMM #ViksitBharat #CurrentAffairs #StaticGK