India raises mining royalties on key minerals to boost domestic production and cut imports.

India's Union Cabinet has approved revised ad valorem royalty rates for graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium to boost domestic mining of critical minerals. Rates vary by mineral and grade, with graphite taxed at 2% for high-carbon ore and 4% for lower-grade, while caesium and rubidium face 2% royalties and zirconium 1%. The move aims to attract investment, reduce reliance on imports—India imports 60% of its graphite—and strengthen supply chains for electric vehicles, aerospace, and clean energy technologies. The policy supports upcoming auctions of mineral blocks, including those with lithium, rare earth elements, and niobium, and follows the release of 20 new blocks for bidding.