The Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, has launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 to find new technical solutions in India’s critical minerals sector. The Ministry of Mines is inviting students, researchers, start-ups and innovators to tackle two specific challenges related to mineral exploration and technology tracking. Winners will share cash prizes totalling several lakh rupees.
Key Details of the Hackathon
The hackathon addresses two problem areas:
- Mineral Prospectivity Mapping from Open Data: Participants must create a prospectivity heatmap for lithium or rare earth element pegmatites and verify it against known mineral deposits.
- Smart Technology and Patent Tracker for Critical Minerals: Teams will develop a web-based system to track research and development activity and patents in the critical minerals field.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) in Nagpur, which operates under the Ministry of Mines, will organise and host the event.
Important dates: The deadline to submit ideas is 20 September 2026. Winners will be announced at India Mining Week 2026, taking place from 15 to 17 November 2026.
Prize money: For each of the two problem statements, the winning team will receive ₹1.50 lakh and the runner-up team will receive ₹1.00 lakh.
Full information, registration details and problem statement guidelines are available on the JNARDDC website at https://jnarddc.gov.in/
What this means for you
If you are a student, researcher, or work in technology or innovation, this hackathon offers a chance to work on real problems facing India’s minerals industry while competing for prize money. The initiative aims to build India’s capability in critical minerals, which are essential for batteries, electronics and defence applications. By participating, you would contribute to India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in these strategic resources.