First-Ever Tailings Policy for Recovery of Critical Minerals

• 21 Jan 2026

On 19th January 2026, the Government of India announced the country’s first Tailings Policy, laying down guidelines for the exploration and recovery of critical and strategic minerals from both primary sources and secondary sources such as mine dumps and tailings of existing mines.

Key Points

• What Are Tailings: Tailings are the waste materials left after valuable minerals are extracted from crushed ore during mining operations.
• Budget Announcement: The policy follows the Union Budget announcement on launching a framework for the recovery of critical minerals from tailings.
• Need for the Policy: Critical and strategic minerals are not confined to conventional mineral resources under the Ministry of Mines, but may also be present in materials handled by other ministries, necessitating a coordinated inter-ministerial approach.
• Inter-Ministerial Coordination: The policy calls for coordinated efforts to identify:
  • Locations of tailing ponds and mine dumps.
  • Quantity of tailings generated.
  • Likely availability of critical and strategic elements.
  • Economic viability of recovery.
• Concept of Companion Minerals: The policy recognises that minerals mined as primary ore may contain companion metals in tailings and waste products.