India and Japan are advancing discussions to jointly explore rare earth mineral deposits in Rajasthan, a move that reflects growing efforts by both countries to secure critical resources essential for high-technology manufacturing. The potential partnership comes as Japan seeks to diversify its supply chains and reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials.
The dialogue follows the critical minerals cooperation framework agreed upon by India and Japan last year, aimed at strengthening collaboration in the exploration, processing and supply of strategic minerals. Recent geological assessments in India have identified three hard rock rare earth deposits across Rajasthan and Gujarat, containing an estimated 1.29 million ton of rare earth oxides. Among these, the deposits in Rajasthan have drawn particular interest from Japan.
Japanese authorities are considering sending technical teams to evaluate the identified sites and study their feasibility for extraction. While a timeline for these assessments has not yet been announced, the initiative signals a possible expansion of Indo-Japanese cooperation in the mining and minerals sector.
Hard rock rare earth deposits typically require advanced extraction and processing technologies due to their complex geological characteristics. Japan is expected to contribute specialised mining expertise and potential financial support for project development, in exchange for long-term access to a stable supply of rare earth materials.
Rare earth elements play a crucial role in the manufacturing of high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence systems, drones and several other advanced technologies. With global demand for these materials rising rapidly alongside the transition to clean energy and digital technologies, securing reliable sources has become a strategic priority for many nations.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is currently evaluating mining opportunities across multiple countries as part of a broader strategy to diversify supply chains for critical minerals. Collaboration with India, which is working to expand domestic exploration and resource development, could form a significant component of this effort while also strengthening bilateral cooperation in emerging technology and energy sectors.