Parliament Question: Rare Earth Corridors

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1710 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026 RARE EARTH CORRIDORS

1710. SMT. SANJNA JATAV SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

(a) the role assigned to Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) in the implementation of the proposed Rare Earth Corridor in the country particularly in Andhra Pradesh;

(b) the details of the projects undertaken by IREL for the processing and value addition of critical minerals during the last three years;

(c) the details of the investments made and employment generated through these projects; and

(d) the expected contribution of these initiatives towards achieving self-reliance in the critical minerals supply chain in the country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) The Union Budget 2026-27 made an announcement to support mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to establish dedicated Rare Earth corridors to promote mining, processing, research and manufacturing. In line with the announcement, a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising all stakeholder Ministries of Government of India and the four State Governments was formed for formulation of guidelines for the same. IREL (India) Ltd. (IREL), a PSU under Department of Atomic Energy is part of the JWG formed.

(b & c) IREL has completed a project - “Rare Earth Permanent Magnet plant, Visakhapatnam” for strategic applications during the year 2024. The project cost was Rs. 196.50 crore and the project has generated employment for 65 persons.

(d) The Projects undertaken by IREL will help in achieving the target set under the Scheme to promote manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets approved by Government of India in 2025. *****