New Delhi, Jan. 29 -- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission with an outlay of Rs 16,300 crore and expected investment of Rs 18,000 crore by public sector undertakings (PSUs).Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the mission aims to reduce the dependence on the import of critical minerals and ensure self-reliance.

The National Critical Mineral Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet, will encompass all stages of the value chain, including mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.

The mission will intensify the...