Prez calls for Atmanirbharta in rare earth space
Suggests development of indigenous technique will help complete this complicated process
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi:
PresidentDroupadi Murmu said on Friday that India should achieve self-reliance in production of rare earth elements, given the current geopolitical situation. This would help India achieve its target of becoming a developed nation and play an important role in ensuring the security of the country, Murmu said while speaking at the National Geoscience Awards 2024 here.
“Seeing the current geopolitical situation it is very important that India becomes self-reliant in production of rare earth elements,” she said. These elements are not rare because their availability is scarce, but the process to identify these elements is very complicated, she said, adding that the development of indigenous technique will help complete this complicated process. President Murmu said this is the age of artificial intelligence, semiconductior, and clean energy technology. Rare earth elements are essential in smartphones, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy technologies. Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements that are essential for modern technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and wind turbines. The mines ministry, she said, is committed towards sustainability and innovation. The mining sector is promoting AI machine learning and drone-based survey.
The focus is also being laid on recovery of valuable elements from mine tailings. A lot a damage was caused to people this year due to cloudbursts and landslides in several parts of the country and it is very important to get the information about such natural disaster on time, she said.
