News bytes: India updates royalty rates for critical minerals
India just changed how it charges royalties on important minerals like graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium.
Now, graphite with high carbon content gets a 2% royalty (instead of a flat fee), caesium and rubidium are also at 2%, and zirconium is set at 1%.
The goal? Make mining these minerals in India more attractive and reduce our dependence on imports.
Why does it matter?
These minerals are the backbone for things like EVs, batteries, green tech, and even some defense applications.
Right now, India relies heavily on imports, especially for graphite, and China dominates the global market for these minerals.
By updating royalty rates to encourage local mining and investment, the government hopes to build stronger supply chains at home.
That means more self-reliance for India's economy—and maybe even new opportunities in tech and clean energy down the road.