Central Government Notifies 24 Critical and Strategic Minerals Including Tantalum under MMDR Act, 1957
The Central Government has notified a list of 24 minerals including Tantalum, in Part D of the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, 1957 as Critical and Strategic minerals.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, is giving special emphasis on exploration of strategic and critical minerals including Tantalum. From field season 2021-22 to 2024-25, GSI has taken up 6 projects on exploration for Tantalum and associated minerals in different parts of the country. The details are as follows:
| Sl. No. | Field season | State | District | Name of Mineral Block / Area / Belt | UNFC Stage | Mineral Commodity |
| 1 | 2020-21 | Gujarat | Sabarkantha | Nadri | G3 | Tin, Tungsten, Tantalum, Niobium |
| 2 | 2021-22 | Arunachal Pradesh | East Kameng | Seppa | G4 | Tantalum, Cesium |
| 3 | 2023-24 | Rajasthan | Alwar | Dadikar, Harsora and Khairthal | G4 | REE, RM, Tungsten, Tin, Niobium, Beryllium, Tantalum, Hafnium |
| 4 | 2024-25 | Chhattisgarh | Gaurella-Pendra-Murmur & Korba | Uran- KotmiKhurd | G4 | Niobium, Tantalum, REE, lithium |
| 5 | Bihar | Jamui | Kairi-Jhura-Murbaro | G4 | Lithium, Niobium, Tantalum and associated strategic minerals (REE, Rare Metals) | |
| 6 | Karnataka | Chitradurga | Chikjajur-Janakal | G4 | Lithium, Cesium, Niobium, Tantalum, Tungsten |
Further, GSI has established a Niobium-Tantalum resource of 16.42 million tonnes with average grade of 144ppm (Nb+Ta)2O5 at 100 ppm cut off in Rewat Hill block, Nagaur district, Rajasthan.
In order to strengthen the supply chain of critical minerals including Tantalum, elimination of customs duty on Tantalum ores & concentrates and unwrought Tantalum have been announced in Union Budget 2024-25.