Overview
- The programme sits under the National Critical Mineral Mission to bolster near‑term supply chain sustainability through domestic recovery of lithium, cobalt and nickel.
- Detailed guidelines were issued on October 2 after consultations, and the ministry reports active engagement from private‑sector recyclers and technology firms.
- Eligible feedstock includes electronic waste, spent lithium‑ion batteries and catalytic converters from end‑of‑life vehicles.
- Incentives prioritize full mineral extraction using proven methods such as hydrometallurgy, with caps set at Rs 50 crore for large recyclers and Rs 25 crore for smaller players.
- India generates about 1.75 million tonnes of e‑waste and 60 kilotonnes of spent LIBs annually, with duty‑free LIB scrap imports and EPR rules expected to improve feedstock flows over the next four to five years.