According to the Ministry of Mines , “critical minerals” are defined as those minerals which are essential for economic development
and national security, the lack of availability of these minerals or even concentration of existence, extraction or processing of these
minerals in few geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerability and disruption. What makes them ‘critical’ is their limited
concentration . A disruption in the supply of these minerals can significantly impact a country’s industrial output, national security,
and technological advancement.