TNI Bureau: The Centre will establish dedicated rare earth mineral corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to promote mining, processing, research and manufacturing, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget for 2026.

The proposed corridors will strengthen domestic capabilities across the rare earth value chain, including extraction, processing and manufacturing. The initiative aims to boost domestic production and reduce India’s dependence on imports.

India has significant reserves of rare earth elements, which are vital for sectors such as electronics, renewable energy, defence and advanced manufacturing. The government plans to develop these resources by creating dedicated infrastructure and industrial ecosystems in mineral-rich states.