Exploration of critical minerals has begun in Mizoram and Assam as part of the government’s wider push to strengthen domestic mineral security, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy has said.The Minister stressed that the Centre will consult with northeastern states before moving ahead with extraction, given the region’s unique legal frameworks. “Arunachal Pradesh has been brought into the auction regime in the coal sector for the first time… In Mizoram and Assam, too, exploration on critical minerals is ongoing… There are different Acts in the northeast, so we will speak with them and then attempt mining after discussion,” Reddy said in an interview to ANI.On the broader policy front, he highlighted the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, passed by Parliament as a turning point. “The Mines and Minerals Bill is a major reform in the Mining Sector, especially in critical minerals and coal. We are bringing in reforms continuously. Six amendments were brought in for further reforms. In the days to come, we are working towards amending the entire MMDR Act… There would be fair sales in the days to come. Critical minerals are required for national security and development – from cellphones to aeroplanes... They are needed in every sector,” he said.Reddy added that India cannot afford continued dependence on imports. “We are dependent on foreign countries as of now, but different countries have created hurdles now. So, we are trying to bring in Aatmanirbharta in this sector,” the Minister noted.According to Geological Survey of India data, 108 exploration projects have been taken up in the Northeast over the past five years, with 23 still active in 2022-23. Nationally, GSI is implementing 1,200 projects for FY 2024-25 to 2030-31 to step up discoveries in critical minerals.The Cabinet has also cleared the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which will run till 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 16,300 crore. Investments worth Rs 18,000 crore are expected from PSUs and industry stakeholders, with the mission covering the full chain from mining and beneficiation to recycling.Reddy said the Centre is simultaneously encouraging private firms to explore and mine critical minerals abroad to meet domestic demand.