New Delhi, Aug. 14 -- India is actively engaging with China to ensure uninterrupted access to rare earth materials, crucial for various industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence, a senior government official confirmed.

India is negotiating with China for the procurement of permanent magnets made from rare earth minerals. The government is also exploring alternative supply channels and domestic sources to reduce dependence on China.

"We are also finding ways and means by which the supply chain does not get impacted. Efforts are on," the official said.

For context, early this April, China announced a decision to implement export controls on certain rare earth-related items, pushing a supply shortage across the wo...