New Delhi, Jan. 29 -- The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved a national critical mineral mission with an outlay of Rs.34,300 crore to boost India's supply chain in the key sector and achieve self-reliance

The cabinet also approved an increase in the price of ethanol procured by state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) for blending with petrol.

Of the critical mineral mission outlay, an amount of Rs.16,300 crore will be borne by the government and the remaining Rs.18,000 crore raised by public sector undertakings and other entities.

The mission, proposed by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union budget presented in July last year, aims to secure both domestic and foreign supplies of critical minerals by strengthening the valu...