India's Potential to Mine Rare Earth Minerals from Growing E-Waste
India, the world's third-largest e-waste producer, aims to extract critical minerals like lithium and rare earth metals from its increasing electronic scrap to support its clean energy transition. Despite a formal recycling rate above 40%, the system relies heavily on informal workers without adequate protection. The government launched the National Critical Minerals Mission and incentive schemes to formalize and scale recycling infrastructure while addressing environmental and labor concerns.
India generated nearly 1.75 million tonnes of e-waste in 2023-24, marking a 73% increase over five years, positioning it as the third-largest e-waste producer globally. The country seeks to capitalize on this growing scrap to recover critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. More than 90% of e-waste collection and dismantling occurs through informal workshops, where workers often lack protective gear and earn low wages. Although formal recycling has increased significantly, reaching over 40% by 2024 and approaching Western standards, the backbone of the system remains informal and underpaid. Traditional mining of rare earth metals is environmentally damaging, whereas recycling offers a more sustainable alternative. To secure critical mineral supplies, India launched a $4 billion National Critical Minerals Mission focusing on overseas sourcing, domestic mining, and enhanced formal recycling. In 2025, a government incentive scheme was approved to support recyclers of lithium-ion batteries and other critical materials. The country also contemplates establishing a strategic reserve of rare earths for defense use and expedited mining clearances by designating rare earth mining as strategic projects. The challenge ahead is to scale formal recycling efforts while improving working conditions for the informal workforce, ensuring a cleaner, more equitable supply chain for critical minerals amid rising global e-waste volumes projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030.
