New Delhi: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy has launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (CMiH 2026), inviting students, researchers, academic and R&D institutions, startups and innovators to develop technology-driven solutions for challenges in India’s critical minerals sector.
The initiative seeks to support the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission and encourage innovation to strengthen India’s mineral security and technological self-reliance.
Two Challenges at the Core of the Hackathon
CMiH 2026 will focus on two problem statements covering mineral exploration and technology intelligence:
Mineral Prospectivity Mapping from Open Data
Participants will be required to develop a prospectivity heatmap for lithium or rare earth element (REE) pegmatites using open data. The proposed mapping solution will also have to be validated against known mineral occurrences.
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Smart Technology and Patent Tracker
The second challenge involves developing an intuitive, web-based Smart R&D and Patent Tracking System for critical minerals.
The system is intended to help track technological developments and patents relevant to the critical minerals ecosystem.
Who Can Participate?
The hackathon provides participants an opportunity to:
- Develop solutions to identified critical-mineral challenges.
- Showcase innovative ideas before experts.
- Receive expert mentorship.
- Contribute to India’s mineral security.
- Support the development of a technology-driven critical minerals ecosystem.
Students, researchers, academic and R&D institutions, startups and other innovators have been invited to participate.
JNARDDC to Host CMiH 2026
The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Mines, will organise and host the hackathon.
Key Dates and Prize Money
- Idea submission deadline: September 20, 2026
- India Mining Week 2026: November 15–17, 2026
- Winner announcement: During India Mining Week 2026
- Winning teams: Two teams for each problem statement
- First prize: ₹1.50 lakh
- Second prize: ₹1 lakh
Four winning teams in total will receive prizes across the two challenges.
Strengthening India’s Critical Minerals Ecosystem
CMiH 2026 is aimed at bringing students, researchers and technology innovators into efforts to address challenges related to critical mineral exploration and technological development.
The initiative forms part of India’s wider efforts to build an innovation-driven critical minerals ecosystem and strengthen domestic capabilities in an area considered important for the country’s mineral security.
Detailed information on the hackathon, including problem statements, guidelines and registration, is available on the JNARDDC website.
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