Budget 2026 and India’s bid for a rare earths power shift

Budget 2026 Expectations: India is treating rare earths as a key strategic test case to loosen Chinas grip on the sector, with the focus sharpening ahead of Budget 2026. Experts say the budget must prioritise de-risking private investment—through easier financing, tax incentives and assured offtake agreements—to scale up mining, processing and downstream manufacturing. The push is seen as critical to meeting Indias infrastructure build-out and energy transition goals.