New Delhi, July 14 -- In an effort to reduce reliance on China and boost domestic manufacturing, the government plans to transfer technology to private factories within the next three to four months to scale up the production of rare earth magnets, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Saturday.

Speaking to ANI, Reddy stated "We used to be 100 percent dependent on China for permanent magnets of the rare earths. But recently, China has refused to supply. With this view, the Indian government is making efforts for permanent magnet manufacturing."

However, following China's recent decision to restrict exports of certain rare earth-related products, the Indian government has stepped up efforts to build indigenous capacity. ...