Seven Indian Firms Race for DRC’s Critical Minerals — CLAT Current Affairs 16 April 2026

Constitutional & Legal Framework

Seventh Schedule: Mines and mineral development is covered by Entry 54, List I (Union List) — Parliament has overriding power in public interest. Entry 23 of List II subjects state regulation to Union legislation.

MMDR Act, 1957 (amended 2023): The 2023 amendment delisted 6 of 12 “atomic minerals” (including lithium and beryllium), enabling auction-based private-sector exploration of critical minerals. Parliament alone can allocate auctions for 24 critical minerals.

KABIL: Joint venture of NALCO, Hindustan Copper and MECL (2019) to identify, acquire and process overseas strategic minerals. Signed lithium MoU with Argentina’s CAMYEN (January 2024) and is the lead Indian entity in the DRC negotiations.

CLAT Angle — Why This Matters

Critical minerals sit at the intersection of Economy, Environment and International Relations — three pillars of CLAT GK. Expect questions on the MMDR Amendment 2023, KABIL’s structure, India’s 2023 critical minerals list, and the Union-List supremacy of mining regulation.

Link this with the PLI Advanced Chemistry Cell scheme (50 GWh battery target), FAME-II, and India’s Net-Zero 2070 commitment — all of which depend on secure feedstock supply.

Key Facts at a Glance

Mnemonic — KATANGA

KABIL leading acquisition · Africa’s cobalt belt · Transition minerals · Auction regime (MMDR 2023) · NCMM 2025 · Geopolitical race · Advanced Chemistry Cell scheme.

Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions

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