- NITI Aayog and TEXMiN have signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) to boost India's critical minerals ecosystem. - The collaboration focuses on technological advancements, exploration, and sustainable mining practices for critical minerals essential for clean energy and high-tech manufacturing. - TEXMiN, hosted at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, will leverage its expertise in mining and mineral exploration to support policy formulation and technological innovation. - The initiative aims to reduce import dependence, enhance self-reliance, and secure raw material supply chains for strategic sectors like electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy. - **NITI Aayog:** The premier policy think tank of the Government of India providing strategic and technical input on economic development, cooperative federalism, and key national missions. - **TEXMiN (Technology Innovation Center on Exploration and Mining):** A technology innovation center and translation research park established at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad focused on mining automation, exploration technologies, and mineral value chain advancement under Mining 4.0. - **IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad:** A premier technological institution renowned for mining, petroleum, and earth sciences education, serving as a hub for advanced research and technical manpower development in India's mineral sector. **Introduction** NITI Aayog and TEXMiN (Technology Innovation Center on Exploration and Mining at IIT ISM Dhanbad) have signed a Joint Statement of Intent to strengthen India's critical minerals ecosystem. The partnership aims to foster technological innovation, research, and sustainable exploration practices to secure supply chains for high-tech sectors, clean energy transition, and manufacturing, thereby reducing import dependencies. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - NITI Aayog and TEXMiN have signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) to boost India's critical minerals ecosystem. - The collaboration focuses on technological advancements, exploration, and sustainable mining practices for critical minerals essential for clean energy and high-tech manufacturing. - TEXMiN, hosted at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, will leverage its expertise in mining and mineral exploration to support policy formulation and technological innovation. - The initiative aims to reduce import dependence, enhance self-reliance, and secure raw material supply chains for strategic sectors like electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **NITI Aayog:** The premier policy think tank of the Government of India providing strategic and technical input on economic development, cooperative federalism, and key national missions. - **TEXMiN (Technology Innovation Center on Exploration and Mining):** A technology innovation center and translation research park established at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad focused on mining automation, exploration technologies, and mineral value chain advancement under Mining 4.0. - **IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad:** A premier technological institution renowned for mining, petroleum, and earth sciences education, serving as a hub for advanced research and technical manpower development in India's mineral sector.