Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 launched

NEW DELHI: As India aims to build a robust framework for self-reliance in critical minerals, govenment has asked researchers and technology innovators to develop technical solutions to create a secure and resilient critical minerals ecosystem in the country.Coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026, aimed at strengthening the objectives of National Critical Mineral Mission by encouraging students, researchers, academic and R&D institutions, start-ups and innovators to tackle identified challenges pertaining to critical minerals.Organised and hosted by Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Nagpur, the hackathon provides a platform for participants to showcase their ideas, receive expert mentorship and contribute to building a secure and self-reliant critical minerals ecosystem in India.Govt said the hackathon will focus on two key areas: using publicly available data to identify areas that are likely to have deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements, and developing a simple web-based system to track research, new technologies and patents related to critical minerals. Two winning teams will be awarded prizes for each problem statement.Get the latest Business News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.