TL;DR
India's Mines Secretary announced plans to build a complete EV battery ecosystem within 2-3 years, focusing on sourcing, processing, and domestic manufacturing.
India is on track to establish a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem within the next two to three years, according to Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal. Speaking on April 10, 2026, Goyal outlined a strategic plan encompassing lithium sourcing, processing, global acquisitions, and mining sector reforms. He emphasized that lithium is crucial for India's clean energy transition, particularly for EV batteries where lithium-ion technology is dominant.
Despite limited domestic lithium reserves, India is prioritizing securing raw materials internationally and enhancing domestic processing capabilities. Goyal highlighted the availability of technology to process imported spodumene, a lithium-bearing mineral, but noted a current gap in large-scale conversion facilities for battery-grade materials. The government is also nearing completion of a policy focused on processing critical minerals and is considering incentives to encourage the establishment of lithium and nickel processing plants to reduce import dependence.
