New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- The Union Cabinet has approved the specification and revision of royalty rates for four key minerals-Caesium, Graphite, Rubidium, and Zirconium-to facilitate their auction and promote domestic production.

Under the new structure, the royalty rate for Caesium has been set at 2 percent of the Average Sale Price (ASP) of Caesium metal, chargeable on the Caesium content in the ore produced.

Rubidium will also attract a 2 percent royalty on its ASP, while Zirconium will carry a 1 percent royalty on its ASP, both chargeable on the metal contained in the ore.

For Graphite, the rates will now be linked to the ASP on an ad valorem basis-2 percent for grades with 80 percent or more fixed carbon, and 4 percent for those with...