News: India is in talks with Australia + Chile for lithium blocks and exploring additional opportunities in Argentina to secure critical mineral supplies.

Lithium – Key Facts

• Soft, silvery-white alkali metal (Li).
• “White gold” → crucial for rechargeable/lithium-ion batteries.
• Lightest metal + least dense solid element under standard conditions.
• Highly reactive + flammable → stored in inert conditions/liquids.
• Occurs mainly in pegmatites + brines.

Global Distribution

• Major reserves → Bolivia + Argentina + Chile → “Lithium Triangle”.
• Major producers → Australia + Chile + China + Argentina + Zimbabwe.
• Important → Reserves ≠ production.

India’s Lithium Resources

• Identified → Mandya (Karnataka) + Reasi (J&K).
• Potential areas → Rajasthan + Bihar + Andhra Pradesh + Odisha + Chhattisgarh + Rann of Kutch.

Critical Mineral Status

• Lithium designated as a critical + strategic mineral under MMDR Amendment Act, 2023.
• Importance → EVs + battery storage + renewable energy + advanced technologies.

Major Uses

• Lithium-ion batteries → EVs + mobiles + laptops + energy storage.
• Aluminium + magnesium alloys → lightweight/strong materials.
• Ceramics + glass + lubricating greases.
• Thermonuclear applications + CO₂ removal systems.

Why India Wants Overseas Lithium

• Limited domestic resources + rising battery demand.
• Overseas acquisition → Australia + Chile + Argentina.
• Objective → diversify supply sources + reduce supply-chain vulnerability.
• Government encourages Indian private companies to acquire/explore overseas mineral assets.

KABIL

• India’s vehicle for securing strategic/critical minerals overseas.
• Focus → diversified + secure mineral supply chains.

E-waste Recycling

• Secondary source of critical minerals.
• Government incentives → ₹1,500 crore package.
• Recycling can potentially meet 25–30% of India’s critical-mineral needs.