Union Minister G Kishan Reddy launches the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 to drive technology-led solutions for mineral exploration, R&D and patent tracking.
Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy has launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (CMiH 2026). The initiative aims to support innovation and technology development in India’s critical minerals sector.
Critical Minerals 2026 Hackathon to Drive Innovation
The hackathon supports the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission. It invites students, researchers, academic institutions, R&D organisations, start-ups and innovators to develop solutions for key challenges in the critical minerals sector.
Source: PSU Watch
Participants will get an opportunity to showcase their ideas and receive expert mentorship. The initiative also aims to support a secure and self-reliant critical minerals ecosystem in India.
Two Critical Minerals 2026 Problem Statements
The hackathon will focus on two key problem statements.
The first is Mineral Prospectivity Mapping from Open Data. Participants will develop a prospectivity heatmap for lithium or rare earth element (REE) pegmatites. The results will be validated against known mineral occurrences.
The second is Smart Technology and Patent Tracker for Critical Minerals. The challenge seeks an intuitive, web-based system to track R&D activities and patents related to critical minerals.
JNARDDC to Host Critical Minerals 2026 Hackathon
The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, will organise and host the hackathon. The autonomous body operates under the Ministry of Mines.
The initiative will connect innovators with experts and provide a platform to develop practical technology solutions for the sector.
Submission Deadline and Prize Details
The last date to submit ideas is 20 September 2026. The winners will be announced during India Mining Week 2026, scheduled for 15–17 November 2026.
Two winning teams will receive prizes for each problem statement. The first-prize winner will receive Rs 1.50 lakh, while the second-prize winner will receive Rs 1.00 lakh.
The hackathon is expected to strengthen innovation, research and technology adoption across India’s critical minerals ecosystem.
Source: PSU Watch
