Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 10: The second day of the Innovation in Rare Earths and Lithium (IRLi 2025) Summit witnessed an inspiring address by Hon’ble Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, who commended the Critical Minerals Association of India (CMA India) for establishing a vital national platform dedicated to India’s mineral security and clean-energy transformation.
Organized by CMA India and supported by Flytta as the Title Sponsor, IRLi 2025 continued its momentum after a highly successful first day that brought together over 200 delegates, policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers at The Capitol Hotel, Bengaluru.
A Vision for an Atmanirbhar Critical Minerals Ecosystem
Although unable to attend in person due to urgent commitments in Delhi, Shri Pralhad Joshi shared a special video message expressing his admiration for the leadership of Mr. Sandeep Hamilton (Founder & Chairman, CMA India) and Padmashri Dr. Chaitanyamoy Ganguly (President, CMA India). He also acknowledged the efforts of Mr. Channamalikarjun Patil, Mr. Rahul Kanuganti, and the organizing team for their commitment to advancing India’s mineral strategy.
“If India is to become a superpower, the only way is to first become Atmanirbhar in securing these minerals. Critical minerals are the very building blocks of modern civilization and essential to our vision of building a new India,” the Minister said.
Reflecting on his tenure as Union Minister of Mines, Shri Joshi recalled several historic milestones:
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Release of India’s first official list of 30 critical minerals (July 2023)
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Amendments to the MMDR Act (August 2023)
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Launch of India’s first auction of critical mineral blocks (November 2023)
He announced that 34 blocks of key minerals — including lithium, rare earths, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and phosphorite — have already been auctioned, with four in Karnataka, and the sixth tranche of auctions currently underway.
The Minister also linked critical minerals directly to India’s clean-energy ambition:
“India’s plan to reach 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 depends on a secure supply of cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements. The work of CMA India is therefore vital to building a self-reliant supply chain for green technologies”
Day 2 Highlights
Day 2 of IRLi 2025 featured sessions on Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling, Workforce Innovation & Diversity, and Advanced Metallurgical Technologies, led by prominent figures including:
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Dr. Deependra Singh, Former CMD, IREL (India) Limited
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Mr. Sandeep Hamilton, Founder & Chairman, CMA India
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Mr. Rahul Kanuganti, Founder & CEO, Flytta (Title Sponsor)
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Dr. Abhilash, Sr. Principal Scientist, CSIR-NML
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Dr. Chenna Rao Borra, Assistant Professor, IIT Kharagpur
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Dr. Anand Babu, Sr. Scientist, CSIR-CECRI
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Hon’ble Minister Shri Hansraj Aahir
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Ms. Hilary Mcgeachy – General Counsel Australia grace the event
The sessions emphasized the synergy between policy, research, and industry to ensure sustainable growth across the mining and renewable-energy ecosystem.
Mr. Sandeep Hamilton, Founder & Chairman of CMA India, expressed his gratitude toward the Ministry for recognizing the importance of the critical-minerals sector:
“Our vision is to make India the global hub for sustainable resource innovation — from exploration to advanced manufacturing. IRLi 2025 is a testament to that collaborative effort.”
Mr. Rahul Kanuganti, CEO of Flytta, reaffirmed industry’s role in driving innovation:
“Technology and sustainability must move together. From EV logistics to clean-energy infrastructure, the private sector has the power to complement the government’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
About IRLi (Innovation in Rare Earths and Lithium)
IRLi 2025 is India’s leading platform promoting innovation, sustainability, and leadership in the field of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Lithium. The summit connects government, academia, and industry to foster self-reliance and global collaboration in the critical-minerals sector.
About CMA India
The Critical Minerals Association of India (CMA India) is dedicated to fostering responsible mining, exploration, and innovation in the country’s mineral ecosystem. Its founding members include Mr. Sandeep Hamilton (Chairman), Padmashri Dr. Chaitanyamoy Ganguly (President), Mr. Satyanarayana Mathala (Secretary), Mr. Prasad Kotha (Treasurer), Mr. Carlton Mody (Joint Secretary), Mr. Rahul Kanuganti (Joint Secretary), Mr. Vincent Pala (Former Union Minister), Mr. Channamalikarjun Patil, Dr. K.K. Pandey, and Mr. Ramachandra Rao.
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