The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the rationalisation of royalty rates for Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium — minerals that play a vital role in high-tech applications and India’s green energy transition.

As per the decision, the royalty rate for Caesium and Rubidium has been fixed at 2 percent of the average sale price (ASP) of the metal contained in the ore produced. For Zirconium, the rate will be 1 percent of ASP, while for Graphite, the royalty will now be charged on an ad valorem basis — 2 percent for grades with 80 percent or more fixed carbon, and 4 percent for grades with less than 80 percent fixed carbon.

The government said the move will facilitate auctions of mineral blocks containing these elements, thereby unlocking th

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