India, May 29 -- As we steer toward a future shaped by renewable energy and electric mobility, lithium-ion batteries have emerged as the backbone of this transformation. From electric vehicles (EVs) to energy storage systems (ESS), the demand for lithium and other critical minerals is surging exponentially. Yet, even as global momentum accelerates, India finds itself at a juncture where we are deeply dependent on foreign sources, especially from China, to meet our mineral needs.

This import reliance is not just a logistical inconvenience; it is a strategic vulnerability. Renewable energy, by its very nature, should represent independence in a way that is free from fossil fuel geopolitics and volatility. But when a country imports nearly ...